Jays sign Russel Martin

[snipezo]

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/17/blue-jays-sign-russell-martin-to-five-year-contract/
 

 
Russell Martin has agreed to a five-year contract with the Blue Jays, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
For the past several weeks the Cubs were viewed as the front-runner for Martin and the Pirates were also making a run at re-signing the 31-year-old catcher, but the Canada native decided instead to head home.
 
After a great start to his career with the Dodgers he mostly struggled from 2009-2013, never cracking a .750 OPS, but Martin hit .290 with a .402 on-base percentage and .832 OPS in 111 games for the Pirates this season to re-establish himself as one of the game’s best catchers.
 
In addition to the good on-base skills and durability Martin also grades out extremely well in pitch-framing statistics, suggesting his all-around value is generally underrated.
 
No word yet on the money, but last offseason’s five-year, $85 million deal between Brian McCann and the Yankees seems to be a likely starting point.
 

freaking love this signing. Jays finally have a great catcher.

 

[Pugz]

beat me to both of these threads

 

[elcheato]

Martin aint nearly as good as he played last year, but definitely an upgrade. 
 
Seems like a lot of money 

 

[snipezo]

don't even care about them overpaying tbh.
 
his great framing will provide the jays some wins. and he's definitely an upgrade over pikachu.

 

[elcheato]

https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/534397537198022656
 
I feel obligated to remind you of Yan Gomes existence on a regular basis though. Sorry not sorry

 

[Mr.Baller]

I really like this signing for the Jays but they already had Navarro NavarroNavarro who wasn't that bad ... so maybe they should have spent that money to upgrade SP and RP but lets see what's next for AA 

 

[snipezo]

https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/534397537198022656
 
I feel obligated to remind you of Yan Gomes existence on a regular basis though. Sorry not sorry

it hurts.
 

I really like this signing for the Jays but they already had Navarro NavarroNavarro who wasn't that bad ... so maybe they should have spent that money to upgrade SP and RP but lets see what's next for AA 

navarro is a backup dh/catcher
 

 

[bosoxlover12]

This is an awful contract

 

[footballplaya52]

Love rusty but it seems kinda steep. Wish he stayed with the pirates.

 

[snipezo]

sure, it might be a slight overpayment, but its not even that awful for what he provides.
 
he's a guy that can add at least 3 wins just based on his framing and d

 

[footballplaya52]

sure, it might be a slight overpayment, but its not even that awful for what he provides.
 
he's a guy that can add at least 3 wins just based on his framing and d

 
I've watched enough pirates to know, its just a bit higher than what i expected. Pirates are really gonna miss him though. 

 

[snipezo]

It's very difficult to attract free agents in Toronto considering how bad the jays have been for 20+ years, so they're forced to spend big money on a really good player. I'm alright with this overpayment.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

I really like this signing for the Jays but they already had Navarro NavarroNavarro who wasn't that bad ... so maybe they should have spent that money to upgrade SP and RP but lets see what's next for AA 

I think I read somewhere yesterday they the Navarro had terrible pitch framing stats last year.

 

[snipezo]

Yes, he was terrible. Very lazy catcher to say the least. 

 

[Mr.Baller]

I'm just hoping the Jays aren't done... We really need to add a SP and RP. I'm also hoping somehow AA makes a trade to get Either  

 

[Giantmetfan07]

You want to trade for a 33 year old OF on the decline?

 

[snipezo]

Eww baller lol. Jays need someone who can destroy lefties.

 

[footballplaya52]

does he mean ethier or either RP or SP? lol

 

[snipezo]

Oh shit lol. I think he meant either sp or rp.

Misread it I guess.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

I completely misread that. But he did Capitalize the E so I still think it was a typo.