The MLB free agent period, is never a big frenzy like in the NHL. Many players take their time and test the market, see what teams want to offer and then will decide at one point where they want to play, while the fans sit, wait and listen to countless rumors. Well it seems like one of the rumors have come to fruition and it involves the Toronto Blue Jays.
According to multiple sources and top reporters the Toronto Blue Jays have signed Canadian catcher Russell Martin to a five-year $82 million deal, pending a physical of course. It looks like the Jays are finally making some noise. It is also important to note that the rumors that had been swirling for days were saying that the Chicago Cubs were the front runners in signing Martin.
Blue Jays Make Big Move in Signing Martin
Martin might be 31, but signing him makes a lot of sense for the Blue Jays. He was born in Toronto and raised in Montreal so he is a great player for marketing in Canada. He is also a solid all-around catcher; he has played for the LA Dodgers, New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates. In 9 major league seasons Martins career stats look are a .258 average, with 119 home runs, 540 RBIs, 550 runs, 1035 hits, and a career WAR of 30.1. This season he also had set a career high with a .402 on-base percentage and had his highest OPS (.430) and slugging percentage (.832).
Signing Martin also puts the Jays in a unique situation at catcher. That unique situation is Dioner Navarro, he was a solid catcher for the Blue Jays last year defensively and offensively, he also helped young pitchers like Marcus Stroman. It’s easy to assume that the Jays might test the market and see if a team is in need of a catcher, if no one bites, or if there isn’t a good enough deal, the Blue Jays can easily fit him in with Martin, or in the DH roll with the team. The Jays have options to work with which could mean more splashes this off-season.
Signing Martin is a big deal for the Blue Jays, it means they are whiling to spend the money to move forward. I guess, the real is the question now, do the Blue Jays have more money to spend on free agent players, or enough to re-sign Melky Cabrera, or pick up another pitcher? Will Toronto make a trade to add a second or third basemen, or a bullpen pitcher, or someone to replace Melky if they can’t resign him. There are so many options that the Jays can work with right now, that they will keep everyone guessing.
Whatever the plan, they have done two things; they have added an all-star catcher who has also won a gold glove and silver slugger in 2007. The Blue Jays have also proven to many fans, including myself that they are whiling to spend some money. Now we have to just wait and see if there are more moves to be made, but the Blue Jays have definitely given their fans an early Christmas present.
Nicks Notes:
The Blue Jays have named Brook Jacoby the new hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays for seven seasons from 2007-13 he was the Cincinnati Reds hitting coach. He is the fourth hitting coach in recent years to come to Toronto and hopefully he can work some magic with the Blue Jays hitters, seeing how Joey Votto turned out, it’s safe to say he has the right stuff for Toronto
Speaking of the Reds, we all know the Jays and Reds are facing each other in 2015 against the Blue Jays in Montreal. This will be a great marketing campaign for Canadian Major League baseball players as the Jays will most likely show case Russell Martin, Dalton Pompey and Brett Lawrie, while the Reds will show Joey Votto. If you haven’t gotten any tickets for these games yet, you might want to buy them, before it is too late.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @NVincelli. Also please support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and@LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
For the latest in sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
