Headlines

  • Mets, Yankees Among Teams To Show Recent Interest In David Robertson
  • Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September
  • Nationals Select Eli Willits With First Pick Of 2025 Amateur Draft
  • 2025 MLB Draft, First Round Results
  • Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear
  • Astros Promote Brice Matthews
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Non-Tender Candidate: Russell Martin

By Mike Axisa | November 25, 2010 at 7:34pm CDT

It wasn't too long ago that Russell Martin looked like an up-and-coming superstar, hitting .293/.374/.469 with 19 homers while throwing out 33% of would-be base stealers as a 24-year-old in 2007. He started 143 games behind the plate that year, and it appears as though the heavy workload has taken its toll physically. Still just 27, there's a good chance the Dodgers will decline to tender Martin a contract before the December 2nd deadline.

Martin's 2010 season came to an abrupt end in early August, when an awkward step crossing the plate resulted in a hairline fracture in his right hip. Matt Colleran, Martin's agent, clarified the extent of the injury to MLBTR and provided an update on his status. "[The misstep] resulted in a hairline fracture in his hip, and there was absolutely no damage, tear or injury to his labrum," said Colleran. "In his last medical visit on November 4th, his medical reports confirmed that the fracture was healing quickly, there were no complications to the healing since the injury, no surgery was ever performed or needed, and again, there is, and never was, any damage sustained to his labrum whatsoever."

Prior to the injury, Martin had hit just .248/.347/.332 in 387 plate appearances, continuing a trend that has seen his AVG, OBP, and OPS decline for three straight years. From 2007 through 2009, no catcher started more games behind the plate or caught as many innings as Martin, and it's not particularly close either. The wear-and-tear may have simply been too much.

The Dodgers paid Martin $5.05MM in 2010, his second of four arbitration-eligible seasons (he's a Super Two). Even with the sub-par performance and hip injury, his salary would likely climb north of $6MM in 2011. Quality catching is a hot commodity, but the injury and declining performance combined with the potential salary could make Martin expendable in GM Ned Colletti's eyes. 

Will the Dodgers non-tender Russell Martin?

Click here to vote and here to see the results. Thanks in advance.

Share 1 Retweet 24 Send via email0

Los Angeles Dodgers Non-Tender Candidates Russell Martin

Poll: Will Anyone Sign Manny Ramirez?
Main
Chiba Lotte Will Accept High Bid For Nishioka
View Comments (54)
Post a Comment

54 Comments

  1. Ole_Nivek

    15 years ago

    man, the kemp/loney/martin trio fell apart fast

    Reply
  2. Ben_Cherington

    15 years ago

    Theo..try to get martin before we try to get rod barajas

    Reply
    • PookieGonzales

      15 years ago

      SO much better idea then Barajas. What’s his lefty/righty splits? If he hits lefty’s well then he would be a perfect fit.

      Reply
      • wickedkevin

        15 years ago

        For some reason, a duo of Salty and Martin is so risky yet so satisfying of an idea to me.

        Reply
        • Ben_Cherington

          15 years ago

          probably bc the idea of barajas is so scary!

          Reply
  3. Garafraxaguy

    15 years ago

    Martin has Blue Jay written all over him.

    Reply
    • Sniderlover

      15 years ago

      He’s one of the guys I am hoping AA can target. Even in a very down year, he still ended up with a .347 OBP and that’s with a poor average. His power has fallen though.

      However, unlike with the Dodgers, he wouldn’t have to play catcher all that much and it would help his body too. Arencibia would get bulk of the games, Molina would catch Morrow and Martin can occasionally get a few games in here and there but the reason for targeting him is because he can also play the 1st base for us in because we have no idea how Lind will do there for the whole season. He would make a solid buy-low option and I believe a change of scenery can help him too.

      Even if he doesn’t get non-tendered, I wouldn’t mind giving up a low-to-mid-level prospect for him. He’s still young and has the potential to turn it around.

      Reply
      • CaseyBlakeDeWitt

        15 years ago

        Martin has never played 1st. At least not in the majors. He does have experience at 3rd though.

        The Dodgers never seemed to notice Martin’s high OBP. They just seemed to see that his average fell.

        Reply
        • markjsunz

          15 years ago

          It has more to do with money.McCourt would whore out his mother to make a buck I would expect a ok defense no offense guy to catch. No way McCourt will give Martin a payday. Kemp, Eithier, and looney will not be far behind.

          Reply
      • brian mcgahan

        15 years ago

        Russell Martin isn’t a first baseman…he doesn’t have the bat for it and hasn’t played the position. Martin has real value as a catcher, but he’s Casey Kotchman at best as a first baseman.

        Reply
      • brian mcgahan

        15 years ago

        Russell Martin isn’t a first baseman…he doesn’t have the bat for it and hasn’t played the position. Martin has real value as a catcher, but he’s Casey Kotchman at best as a first baseman.

        Reply
    • bluejayspwn

      15 years ago

      yep him and jp would make a great fit

      Reply
    • Gumby65

      15 years ago

      Well, he does have a blue “J” written right before the “Martin”…..

      Reply
  4. j96

    15 years ago

    He will not be a jay cost way to much unless LA pays half his contract and takes a low end prospect for him

    Reply
    • Garafraxaguy

      15 years ago

      If he is non-tendered he is a free-agent.

      Reply
      • Superman

        15 years ago

        Well after 10 days, the Dodgers have 10 days to trade him.

        Reply
        • GilFisher

          15 years ago

          ummm, no.

          Reply
        • moonraker45

          15 years ago

          thats waivers

          Reply
        • moonraker45

          15 years ago

          thats waivers

          Reply
  5. Potrzeba

    15 years ago

    For the love of God Theo, trade for Martin! I don’t want barjas, or olivo.

    Reply
  6. Superman

    15 years ago

    If a 33 year old Joaquin Benoit can get an Annual Salary of 5.5M based on one superb season, I think a 27 year old catcher who still has that upside and potential to be a good regular catcher is worth roughly 6M. Plus he’s controllable for more than just one year if he gets it together.

    Reply
    • CaseyBlakeDeWitt

      15 years ago

      That’s an excellent way to put it in perspective.

      Reply
  7. basemonkey

    15 years ago

    Yes, yes, it has not been ideal thus far for Martin, but he is still not old. He may or may not get expensive soon. THough the bright side might be that this type of performance suppresses his price. That said in this kind of market, majorleague catchers are a very rare commodity right now. It might change in a season or two from now, but in this market, I think the Dodgers do themselves a favor by hanging onto him. Martin might effectively become a stopgap option until a longterm solution presents itself. Right now I don’t know if that player is out there, for any team, even if you are willing to pay.

    Reply
    • Sniderlover

      15 years ago

      I agree. Catchers are a hot commodity and Martin can still be a good year, he is still young and can turn it around.

      I think Dodgers do tender him but I wouldn’t be surprised if they traded him. He’s declined continuously over the past year and is just not working out there anymore.

      Reply
      • johnsilver

        15 years ago

        Martin may be another of the players that could shine once gets out of that grand canyon of a stadium. he does not have ‘light tower power” and a more hitter friendly stadium could be just what he needs. fenway would be an ideal place, especially with 3 more years of control, but also be wary of trading for him with a huge salary already, bidding on the open market and him being non tendered is the only way. 5M+ is way too much for what anyone is going to currently (Including LAD) get.

        Reply
        • cubfan4life

          15 years ago

          There are a handful of teams who could get in on Martin. If he is tendered a contract then im sure there will be teams who call to see what it would take to get him. If he is non tendered you could probably see a fit with anywhere from 10-15 teams. Unless the injury is more severe than LA is letting on.

          His value is not in being a HR hitter. He can be a high OBP, doubles, gap to gap power guy and be very good when that is what you expect out of him. He’ll hit a handful of HRs but he isnt a true HR guy.

          A team that makes a ton of sense is Boston but i also think that he would fit in very well in Seattle, Colorado, and Chicago (AL). But like i said you could make a case for anywhere from 10-15 teams based on whether or not he is non tendered.

          Reply
          • BlueSkyLA

            15 years ago

            He’s hardly a fly ball type hitter, so a smaller park isn’t the solution. The problem seems to be that he’s been trying to compensate for the lack of power by pulling the ball. Major League pitchers figure out a player like that, which I’d say is the main reason why his plate productivity is down. I’m hoping a new batting coach will work with him on hitting more to right field. He has always been poor at hitting behind runners.

            Reply
          • Gumby65

            15 years ago

            I didn’t realize LA was expecting him to hit all of those big fly’s you speak of. When Martin is/was at his best, it was a double to right-center.

            Reply
    • Sniderlover

      15 years ago

      I agree. Catchers are a hot commodity and Martin can still be a good year, he is still young and can turn it around.

      I think Dodgers do tender him but I wouldn’t be surprised if they traded him. He’s declined continuously over the past year and is just not working out there anymore.

      Reply
  8. Pasta Diving

    15 years ago

    Cashman needs to pull another ninja move to acquire him.

    Montero/Martin platoon at C would make me drool. Perhaps Phelps/Laird for Martin?

    Reply
  9. BlueSkyLA

    15 years ago

    I predict that Martin is tendered a contract with performance bonuses, unless the Dodgers know more about the extent of his injury than has been revealed here, or anywhere else.

    Reply
    • GilFisher

      15 years ago

      Tender a contract with performance bonuses?? Not how it works.

      Reply
      • BlueSkyLA

        15 years ago

        I’m not entirely sure if it’s possible under the MLB rules, but he’s under team control, so I presume the player and the team can agree to whatever contractural arrangement they both believe to be fair. I realize that the player can force the team to either tender or release, but if his ability to play is in question, then I don’t see Martin forcing that decision, and instead giving the Dodgers a reason to deal with him. After all, he won’t get any better on the free agent market.

        Reply
        • brian mcgahan

          15 years ago

          Once they tender him a contract he is eligible for the arbitration salary…the Dodgers would have no leverage after they decide to keep him. Your scenario can’t happen.

          Reply
          • YanksFanSince78

            15 years ago

            Not exactly true. They can offer him a 3/$10 mil deal and his salary is what it is.

            Reply
          • BlueSkyLA

            15 years ago

            You miss my point. The Dodgers’ other option is to release him, in which case he becomes a free agent with a big question mark attached. I see no reason why the results of a release (i.e., resigning under new terms) cannot negotiated in advance. Possibly somebody knows the MLB rules better and can tell us why this can’t be done, but I don’t know what it might be.

            Reply
          • BlueSkyLA

            15 years ago

            You miss my point. The Dodgers’ other option is to release him, in which case he becomes a free agent with a big question mark attached. I see no reason why the results of a release (i.e., resigning under new terms) cannot negotiated in advance. Possibly somebody knows the MLB rules better and can tell us why this can’t be done, but I don’t know what it might be.

            Reply
          • CaseyBlakeDeWitt

            15 years ago

            They can sign him to a cheaper deal, rather than letting him go to arbitration. Similar to what the Diamondbacks are trying to do with Zach Duke.

            Reply
      • BlueSkyLA

        15 years ago

        I’m not entirely sure if it’s possible under the MLB rules, but he’s under team control, so I presume the player and the team can agree to whatever contractural arrangement they both believe to be fair. I realize that the player can force the team to either tender or release, but if his ability to play is in question, then I don’t see Martin forcing that decision, and instead giving the Dodgers a reason to deal with him. After all, he won’t get any better on the free agent market.

        Reply
  10. j96

    15 years ago

    He would work good splitting time with Molina just hopefully it’s at a lower price

    Reply
  11. pageian

    15 years ago

    I see the Dodgers keeping him. They may not like the idea of paying him $6 million or so but he’s still relatively young and it’s still not out of the question that he could return to form, I’d say that’s worth the gamble. If he’s right he’s too valuable of a resource to just let go.

    Reply
  12. DK_hits_20

    15 years ago

    They’ll keep him. He’s a fan favorite. Plus, the catcher market is pretty slim and will be even slimmer after the Red Sox sign Barajas, which I’m 99% sure they will.

    Reply
  13. underdog

    15 years ago

    This seems like one of the tougher choices the Dodgers will have this off season, but agree with those above that given his age, the paucity of good catchers out there, and the lack of other good options, the team is still better off bringing him back into the fold, even at the increased cost. Assuming they are satisfied with his health reports, and assuming they acknowledge that he cannot start 6 out of 7 games every week (and with Joe Torre gone maybe that is more likely), I think best move for LA is to tender him. A Martin/AJ Ellis combo wouldn’t be that bad and Martin if healthy could be due to bounce back at least enough to make it worthwhile.

    Reply
  14. underdog

    15 years ago

    This seems like one of the tougher choices the Dodgers will have this off season, but agree with those above that given his age, the paucity of good catchers out there, and the lack of other good options, the team is still better off bringing him back into the fold, even at the increased cost. Assuming they are satisfied with his health reports, and assuming they acknowledge that he cannot start 6 out of 7 games every week (and with Joe Torre gone maybe that is more likely), I think best move for LA is to tender him. A Martin/AJ Ellis combo wouldn’t be that bad and Martin if healthy could be due to bounce back at least enough to make it worthwhile.

    Reply
  15. $1961279

    15 years ago

    many here who are very pro Martin have not watched him break down to a greater degree each successive season under Torre. The guy is a catcher who once had the ability to steal 20-30 bases/season and now he looks like he needs a walker out there. Could be his hip was bad long before the official injury. He is a gamer for sure but often does not get it that catchers simply cannot keep playing so many innings year in and year out and not have a very short career as well as having nothing in the tank when it matters at the end of the season.He just is not as good as some here think. But again, there are not a lot of good catchers these days anyway. Too bad they did not “Biggio” him when we were suffering with Kent bleeding the bank dry…Martin would have been a solid guy playing 2nd and who knows, with healthy legs under him he could have kept hitting HR’s…or was that just HGH? ANymore you have to always wonder than part as well.

    Reply
    • BlueSkyLA

      15 years ago

      And he’s not as bad as some think. Nobody expects a catcher to steal five bases a season, let alone 30. Playing him out of position makes no sense. He was forced to play some games at third and he looked like a fish out of water. This kind of thing is rarely attempted and hardly ever works. Besides, one of his strengths is calling games. If healthy he’s certainly worth the $5-6m any team will have to pay for his services. His value didn’t plummet just because he’s not stealing as many bases. If it has dropped, it’s because of the injury.

      Reply
      • thegrayrace

        15 years ago

        I’m sure his declining offensive production for 4 straight seasons has something to do with it. His AVG, SLG and OPS have declined every year since 2007. Stolen bases probably don’t, though.

        Even before the injury, there is no doubt his value was drastically lower than it was in 2007-2008.

        Reply
        • BlueSkyLA

          15 years ago

          Yes, but if Martin had developed as everybody had hoped, and without the strange injury, we’d be talking $10-12m today, not $5-6m.

          Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

  • Top Stories
  • Recent

Mets, Yankees Among Teams To Show Recent Interest In David Robertson

Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September

Nationals Select Eli Willits With First Pick Of 2025 Amateur Draft

2025 MLB Draft, First Round Results

Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

Astros Promote Brice Matthews

Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Bobby Jenks Passes Away

Braves Release Alex Verdugo

Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

Trade Deadline Outlook: Cincinnati Reds

Rays To Play Home Games At Steinbrenner Field Throughout Playoffs

Trade Deadline Outlook: St. Louis Cardinals

MLBTR Chat Transcript

Guardians Place Paul Sewald On Injured List

Mets, Yankees Among Teams To Show Recent Interest In David Robertson

Poll: Who Will Win The 2025 All-Star Game?

The Opener: All-Star Game, Trade Season, MLBTR Chat

Trade Deadline Outlook: San Diego Padres

Jim Clancy Passes Away

MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

Latest Rumors & News

Latest Rumors & News

  • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
  • Luis Robert Rumors
  • Alex Bregman Rumors

 

Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

MLBTR Features

MLBTR Features

  • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
  • Front Office Originals
  • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
  • MLBTR Podcast
  • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
  • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
  • Contract Tracker
  • Transaction Tracker
  • Extension Tracker
  • Agency Database
  • MLBTR On Twitter
  • MLBTR On Facebook
  • Team Facebook Pages
  • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

Rumors By Team

  • Angels Rumors
  • Astros Rumors
  • Athletics Rumors
  • Blue Jays Rumors
  • Braves Rumors
  • Brewers Rumors
  • Cardinals Rumors
  • Cubs Rumors
  • Diamondbacks Rumors
  • Dodgers Rumors
  • Giants Rumors
  • Guardians Rumors
  • Mariners Rumors
  • Marlins Rumors
  • Mets Rumors
  • Nationals Rumors
  • Orioles Rumors
  • Padres Rumors
  • Phillies Rumors
  • Pirates Rumors
  • Rangers Rumors
  • Rays Rumors
  • Red Sox Rumors
  • Reds Rumors
  • Rockies Rumors
  • Royals Rumors
  • Tigers Rumors
  • Twins Rumors
  • White Sox Rumors
  • Yankees Rumors

Navigation

  • Sitemap
  • Archives
  • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

MLBTR INFO

  • Advertise
  • About
  • Commenting Policy
  • Privacy Policy

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top

Register

Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version