The Blue Jays are in need of help if they're to give competing in the AL East another go in 2015, and now they've made their first move towards achieving that goal. The Jays reportedly signed free agent catcher Russell Martin to a five-year deal for $82 million, taking him away from the Pirates as well as the Cubs, who this past weekend were considered the favorites thanks to their own need and deep wallet. Peter Gammons initially broke the news of the Martin signing.
Russell Martin signs 5-year, $82 million deal with Blue Jays
The Blue Jays upgrade their pitching staff by signing the top available catcher.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Martin had his career-best season at the plate in 2013, batting .290/.402/.430 while helping lead the Pirates to the postseason for the second time in as many years. He’s unlikely to replicate that with Toronto, as he’s been more of an average hitter throughout his career -- not bad for a catcher, but not great -- but that’s not the only reason he’s getting paid. Defensively, he’s one of the best, as he has a reputation for handling a pitching staff as well as almost anyone in the game.
The Blue Jays have struggled to develop their own pitchers or succeed with the ones they’ve acquired from elsewhere for some time now, and having someone like Martin to help them flourish is one of the quickest ways to improve in that regard. Ask the Pirates, who similarly had trouble putting any kind of productive pitching together in the years before Martin. He’s not the entire reason Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez pitched well for Pittsburgh, but he was part of their much-improved performances.
The Jays already upgraded their catching last winter by replacing J.P. Arencibia's horrific season with Dioner Navarro, but Martin is a better bet to match or improve on Navarro's offensive production, while also eclipsing him defensively. The Jays will need more if they're to challenge the Orioles or any one of the Rays, Yankees, or Red Sox -- they could all be revitalized in 2015 -- but Martin is a lovely, albeit expensive, start.
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