Russell Martin Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Star Catcher

Russell Martin is one of the bigger names in the free-agent pool and is expected to draw interest from numerous teams on the open market.

The former Pittsburgh Pirates catcher has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Continue for updates.

Monday, Nov. 17

Martin Reportedly Agrees to Deal With Toronto Blue Jays

Peter Gammons reported that Toronto has landed the services of Russell Martin.

Later, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported on Martin's deal with the Blue Jays:

Sunday, Nov. 16

Front-Runner Emerges in Race For Martin

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports on one team who league executives believe is the leaders to sign Russell Martin:

Thursday, Nov. 14 

Dodgers in Mix for Martin 

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reveals another team in the mix for Martin's services:

"

The Dodgers are looking into bringing back top free agent catcher Russell Martin, league sources said, and they certainly have the spending power to become a formidable obstacle to the Cubs or incumbent Pirates.

The Jays are a fourth team reportedly in the mix for Martin.

[...]

New Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is said to be an admirer of Martin. As Rays GM he never had a chance to pursue a big-time free agent, and in St. Petersburg Pat Burrell on a two-year deal was considered a major signing.

 

"

Monday, Nov. 10

Martin Rejects Qualifying Offer

Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago reported on Russell Martin's qualifying offer in Pittsburgh:

Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette passed along comments from general manager Neal Huntington following the announcement:

J.P. Hoornstra of insidesocal.com reports that Martin is seeking a deal in the $75-80M range over five years. 

Saturday, Nov. 7

As one of the most valuable free agents on the market this winter, it's no surprise that 31-year-old Russell Martin is already attracting attention from teams. 

The nine-year veteran is coming off his best offensive season since 2007, posting a .290/.402/.430 slash line with 31 extra-base hits for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also remains one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, only adding to his immense value. 

According to Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago, Martin's list of potential suitors has grown:

"

The Cubs have wasted little time in their pursuit of becoming a contending team in 2015. After hiring veteran manager Joe Maddon on Monday, the team rolled out the red carpet in a meeting with free agent catcher Russell Martin on Thursday, according to an MLB source.‬

Martin is considered one of the top catchers in the game and will have further serious conversations with four teams, including the Cubs, according to industry sources. The Pirates, Martin’s most recent club, and the Dodgers are known to be two of the other teams that Martin and his agent will visit with.

"

Among catchers with at least 450 plate appearances in 2014, Martin ranked third with 5.3 wins above replacement, per FanGraphs. Only Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy (6.3) and San Francisco's Buster Posey (5.7) were better. 

Using FanGraphs' metrics, Martin was the National League's most valuable defensive catcher last year and only trailed Kansas City's Salvador Perez and Detroit's Alex Avila in all of MLB. He was one of the biggest reasons for Pittsburgh's turnaround and why the Pirates were in the playoffs each of the last two years.

In other words, as D.J. Short of Hardball Talk wrote back in September, Martin is one of the most underrated assets in Major League Baseball:

Gabe Kapler of Fox Sports wrote about how Martin acts as a coach on the field when he's working with a pitching staff:

"

The lack of a quick acronym should not lead people to overlook the impact they have on their teammates. Is it perhaps reasonable to think that Martin raises the performance of a pitcher by one-fifth of a win over the course of a season? If he works with 15 pitchers, he’s added three wins to his club. Whoa, that’s a badass bump.

"

While there isn't much science in Kapler's reasoning, it's not hard to see that Martin is unique among MLB catchers.

The Pirates will want to retain Martin as their starting catcher, though it won't be easy. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported in October that he turned down a contract extension in the middle of the season. There is no statement as to the details of the offer. Heyman also speculated that, as a free agent, "Martin could easily request a big five-year deal considering his stellar season."

The most important thing for a catcher is to be productive behind the plate, and anything with the bat is a bonus. 

Martin held up his end of the bargain, and then some, in two years with Pirates. Now, he's poised to get the first big payday of his career. 

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