No, not THAT Martin.
With Jesus Montero and Francisco Cervelli as their slated 2011 catchers, the Yanks weren’t too comfortable. There is a lot of youth and inexperience there. The Yanks would like Montero to (pardon the pun ) “catch” on, but probably weren’t too happy knowing that if Montero wasn’t ready that Cervelli would be their #1. Talents like Romine and Sanchez are still a few years off.
So they signed Russell Martin. The righty hitting catcher will be just 28 next year. He is coming off a hip injury so there is a bit of concern. He and Montero will compete for the starting job, and (as for now) Cervelli is still there. Posada is there, but as a DH. It looks like the last thing the Yanks want Jorge to do is catch.
No details yet, but it can’t be a long-term deal for Martin. Not with all the young catching prospects the Yanks have. But it does increase the likelihood that now a catcher may be put into a package for a starting pitcher. Cashman is said to now look into shoring up the bullpen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Joba also winds up as part of a package for a starter.
Martin missed about two months of the 2010 season and hit .248-5-26 in 2010. He’s been a two-time all-star, and has won a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove. In 2007 he hit 19 HR and drove in 87 runs while stealing 21 bases. His numbers have dropped off since that .293 hitting sophomore campaign. From .293 to .280, .250 and .248. OPS+ numbers of 116, 108, 85 and 89. In the postseason, Martin is .224-1-9 in 19 games. Martin’s career marks come to a 162 g. average of .272-13-73 with an OPS+ of 101. Figure that if he catches 120 games he’d put up .272-11-60. I’d figure him for 8th in the Yankees’ lineup.
Well, this is one move. Let’s see what other moves are part of ”Plan B.”
Cashman in a press conference:
On the failed mid-season trade attempt: “I’m thankful even more so now that I didn’t do that.”
Good point. Could you imagine losing Montero for 1/2 season of Lee, now knowing his heart was in Philly? Maybe Lee could have helped the Yanks to (or win) the 2010 WS, but if he left NY after just 1/2 a year in the Bronx, sheesh. Montero for 1/2 a year of Lee? That’d have been too much.
More from Cashman, via LoHud:
“I think it would be a rare situation for me to include Montero in a deal.”
But I think Cervelli could be gone.
Update 12/15: From MLBTR:
The Yankees’ $4MM (1 yr.) deal with Russell Martin is official now that he has passed his physical, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (Twitter links). With Jorge Posada moving into a designated hitter role next year, Martin should be the Yankees’ starting catcher. Since Martin has less than five years of service time, he’s under team control for 2012 as an arbitration eligible player.
For Cashman’s sake Montero better be really good next year. As of right now Montero has a total of 0 major league innings played. He’s nothing more than Lasting Milledge or Todd Van Poppel. One just needs to look to Boston and see the once can’t miss prospect Jarod Saltiamacchia. Maybe you acquire Lee and he falls in love with NY and stays with the team. But it’s a nice excuse to give when your selling Russell Martin a catcher coming off a injury as your big acquisition. Cause Cervelli couldn’t fetch a hot towel in a trade. If Montero is more Salty and less Mauer it should be a rare situation the Cashman keeps his job.
Good point, but besides Montero there is also Austin Romine and Gary Sanchez. Sanchez is still just 18 but could wind up the true gem. Martin seems like an insurance policy for 2011 to buy time for the others. Cervelli in a package could get something. Obviously not much by himself.
Montero seems like to one name that always comes up when team are looking at the talent in New York’s organization. This team will go into next year with one very reliable pitcher in Sabathia. Everyone else has question marks. Burnett is a head case, Hughes play fell of severly in the 2nd half Pettite may retire and even if he comes back he’s 39. Problem is there is a Cervelli type player on every team in baseball. Average defense, average arm, average at best hitter, no power. I guess he’ll go in a “oh, i didn’t even know they traded him deals” like Juan Miranda. At best I guess he’s garbage you throw in to a bigger trade. One thing is if Montero can get you a REAL NO. 2 PITCHER you trade him without hesitation.
Yeah. Fans seem to think that if you add more B players, you will get an A. It doesn’t work that way. To get an A you have to give up an A.
One thing the Yanks can do besides a trade (BBD has a list of free agents/trades that Yanks could look into) is to check some reclamation projects. Wang is obviously on this list and the Yanks may not want to go back there.
But someone like Brandon Webb? I mean, the guy 2006-2008 had a CYA and two runnerup finishes. Problem in that he’s pitched one MLB game in the last two years. He’s a Wang-type. You hope to get him back to somewhat close to what he was. Maybe he won’t be all the way back, but if 2/3 of the way. Besides Wang and Webb, others are Jeff Francis, Chris Young… not as talented as Webb was.
But it’s kind of hit and miss. Kind of like Jaret Wright. He was resurrected by the Braves for a decent year, came to the Yanks and mediocre. Low Risk/High Reward. But lots of times low risk and #5 starter. The Problem is, the Yanks right now need a #2 (I consider Hughes a 3, and a soon to be 39 year old Andy a 4, Burnett after last year the 5). Where a #2 comes from …
More in a bit. I may post or link to BBD’s list (giving appropriate credit to them, Rob over there does great work) and also list some more of those reclamation projects.
how about Chamberlain as a reclamation project. One last chance to see if he can regain the dominance he showed when first inserted into the rotation. no competition just give him a spot no inning restrictions and see what happens
ha ha. But Yanks say he is now reliever and don’t want to yank (pardon the pun) him around anymore.
But see new post. One reclamation project signed by Yanks…Prior.