The New York Yankees have reportedly offered former Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin a one-year contract, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
Martin had an awful 2010 season, serving as one of the major disappointments for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Martin played in just 97 games, hitting .248 with five HR, 26 RBI and six SB.
Martin has declined over the past few seasons.
His batting average has steadily declined each year since 2007. He hit .293 in 2007, .280 in 2008 and .250 in 2009. The Yankees will hope Martin can turn the clock back to his 2007 career year, which was just his second in the majors. Martin hit .293 with 19 HR, 87 RBI, 21 SB and 32 doubles
A one-year offer to the catcher is a smart move for the Yankees. Without any long term attachment to Martin, the Yankees have nothing to lose. If Martin performs poorly, he’ll be gone after the season and they aren’t forced to play him.
The offer seems to be a proactive move to prevent the Boston Red Sox from gaining a quality catcher. The Red Sox changed the landscape of the MLB when they acquired two of the best players in the league. They traded for Adrian Gonzalez and signed Carl Crawford.
These two additions join a lineup already boasting David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury. With this stacked lineup ready to demolish opposing pitchers, the Red Sox have one of the strongest teams heading into the 2011 season.
It seems the World Series is set to run through Beantown once again as the Red Sox appear perched above the New York Yankees in the AL East at the moment.
The Yankees are reportedly set to offer Cliff Lee a monstrous contract that he may be forced to accept. However, the offer to Russell Martin now positions themselves for the possibility Lee doesn’t join the club.
New York Yankees catcher Jesus Montero is one of the top prospects in any farm system. They would love to see him battle Jorge Posada, and possibly now Russell Martin, for the starting catcher job.
If the Yankees don’t land Cliff Lee, they may be forced to trade their top prospect to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Zack Greinke. The Yankees would feel compelled to upgrade their pitching staff to contend with the Boston lineup.
The only thing we know for sure is that the Yankees appear ready to do whatever they can to match Boston.
Rightfully so.
They’re in a position they never want to be in now: Looking up at the Boston Red Sox.
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