9:21pm: Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com says (on Twitter) that talks haven't gotten off the ground, and the two sides will revisit an extension during the season. The Yankees are willing to do $20MM over three years, but Martin wants a raise.
3:03pm: The Yankees have suggested the possibility of re-working Russell Martin’s one-year contract into a three-year extension, agent Matt Colleran told Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. However, GM Brian Cashman said Martin and Colleran "weren't interested" in the team's initial offer, Jack Curry of the YES Network reports (Twitter links). Martin will earn $7.5MM in 2012 on his current contract before hitting free agency.
The Yankees aim to have a payroll under $189MM by the 2014 season for luxury tax purposes, and Martin is willing to “be flexible in their budget constraints," according to Colleran. GM Brian Cashman and Colleran spoke yesterday and will likely discuss a deal again soon. Though the Yankees' initial offer didn't entice Martin to sign, Cashman said he's open to resuming discussions.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals continue extension talks with Yadier Molina, who is also scheduled to hit free agency after the season. If Martin and Molina sign long-term, Mike Napoli and Miguel Montero would be the top available free agent catchers next winter. Arizona GM Kevin Towers said earlier in the offseason that there are few satisfying comparable catchers to Montero and MLBTR's Extension Tracker supports his assertion. The catchers with five or more years of service time who recently signed extensions wouldn't be relevant to Martin, Molina, Montero and Napoli.
awesome.. good for him, couldn’t happen to a nicer guy..
speaking of which, it I used to hate every player on the yankees (minus Mo) now the team has a bunch of players you can’t hate. (granderson, Martin, Cano)
what gives
I’ve heard that from a few fans (even a few Red Sox fans) over the past year or so.
my heckling at jays/yankees games is down to an all time low..
I used to come back from games with no voice.. now all my efforts go in to heckling Arod and Teixera only. and now Posadas gone too. Sucks .
Life has its challenges…..
Why Texiera and Posada? Just wondering.
Posada no reason really, mostly because he just always hurt the jays
Teix i hated before he was a yankee, he’s so smug and arrogant, atleast it seems.. plus i hate his face
lol my friends and I (both Yankee and non-Yankee fans) all say he has a horse face.
Yah I just don’t like him at all.
but this year after a game a bunch of the yankees went out, and seriously granderson and martin were two of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. Sabathia was a bit stand offish but meh.
Swisher and Jeter are also awesome people. It kind of stinks. Gary Sanchez is rumored to have a bad attitude, so there is hope for the future.
They had to balance out the A-Rods of the world. Good for them for it though. Love them or hate them, they always make it interesting.
i find Cano’s constant grin absolutely grating. I might feel differently if he was on my team.
Jeter perfected the ideal public facing persona long ago, but has always fallen smack in between hateable and likeable to me.
Martin was one of my favorite Dodgers, and it’s tough to see him in pinstripes
Granderson is easily the most likeable Yankee.
Nice guy? He’s the one who said last season he’d go out to eliminate the Red Sox completely from the playoffs. I think he said he hated the team, but I don’t remember if that part was true or not.
He did say he hated the team, but just cause he hates them doesn’t mean he isn’t a nice guy. Bobby V said he hates the Yankees, I don’t have a problem with that at all.
So, you mean to tell me that hating someone is nice?
I didn’t say that. But him hating someone doesn’t mean he’s not a nice person. Everyone but NY hates the Yankees, that doesn’t mean those people that hate it aren’t nice.
True, but if I recall, his original statement was in malice, thus indicating that it wasn’t nicely made.
Are you saying he’s both nice and a man of his word?
boo yaa
Wow he said he wanted to eliminate a rival team from the playoffs?
lol who doesn’t feel that way? its called competition
More specifically,I think he directed hate to the Red Sox
Idk he’s kind of whiney guy… at least he seemed that way in those playoff series’ against the Phils. I’m not really a fan of him.
Jeter, Swisher, Sabathia, Cano, Rivera, Granderson, etc I can get behind. One of the most likeable Yankees teams.
I know many Yankee haters despise Jeter, too, but if they ever saw how he handles himself, what he says to the press, his work ethic, etc you would love the guy. There aren’t many athletes I respect more than him in history.
I think most of that is more due to the team he’s played for. So people who don’t like the team are likely aren’t going to like him. But despite that, I think the hate is more out of respect, as I suspect most would respect that he’s been a great hitter without any suspicions of roiding through his career.
for me it’s more that I don’t care about him than actually hating him.
If he’s willing to work within the needs of the Yankees to get to the $189MM luxury tax threshold for 2014. I hope it works out.
Martin’s $8 mil or so a year deal will do little to affect the LT Threshold. It’ll be Cano and Granderson. Cano’s AAV has been $7.5 mil. Granderson’s $6.05. After they’re re-signed their total will go from ~$13.55 to over $40 mil. Cano, Granderson, CC, Teixeira and ARod will count close to $115 mil of the $189, less whatever the benefits are. I think around $9 mil.
My friend, you have to start somewhere. And if the Yankees think that perhaps Romine can man behind the plate in 2014 then the difference between $8MM or so for Martin versus league minimum for Romine is pretty substantial. But I’m sure the Yankees will figure it out.
That’s assuming Granderson is re-signed. I wouldn’t be absolutely certain of that.
That’s a good point.
This plan doesn’t add up to me. They are going to extend Martin and reduce their payroll? How? With all of those older players, it seems impossible for them to do this and still compete. Maybe Billy Beane could do it, but I wonder about Cashman’s ability.
You do realize the Yankees only have 3 guaranteed contracts on their payroll for the 2014 season: A-Rod, Tex and CC. Then there is Jeter’s player option of $8MM for 2014. They actually don’t have that much committed for 2014 and beyond at this point, relatively speaking.
I thought Jeter was signed through 2014. I’m more optimistic now, but I still have a hard time seeing it.
He signed a 3 year deal, 4th year player option, and the 4th year is 2014.
you realize that will be close to $75 million for a 39 year old DH, a 34 year old pitcher, and a 34 year old first baseman right?
they’d have to fill in an entire roster with less than $125 million and still please Yankee fans by being full of super stars and continuing to compete.
You mean a pitcher that in 2014 will be the same age as Roy “Doc” Halladay is today. And a 1st baseman that in 2014 will be a year younger than Albert Pujols.
Obviously I’m not nearly as concerned about the 3 players as you seem to be.
Look. Obviously these guys are all studs, and yes they wont be that old.
That being said, I don’t know if that’s the ideal way to be spending $75 million, especially if you are operating on a “budget” and have to worry about keeping Yankees fans happy.
Roy Halladay is a good shape. Counting on CC long-term is about the same as counting on Prince long-term. I’m just saying. And Teix already looks like he is wearing down a little – at least statistically.
CC Sabathia, however, has lost weight with what you say in mind…he has shown up in spring training about 20 pounds lighter.
I like CC a lot, so I hope that I’m wrong, but people in general don’t tend to maintain weight-loss.
Losing 20-pounds on Sabathia is like taking 20 gallons of water from the Pacific Ocean: you know it’s a lot, but you don’t notice any changes.
now that’s funny
The bullpen is going to shed mo and Soriano’s contract by 2014. That’s 26 million right there and between Joba, Robertson and the farm system, the answers can likely be signed at a minimum. Cano and Grandy will prob cost about 30 million more than they do now, but then you’re basically talking about LF/RF/C/SS for everyday players. In 2014 Jeter for 8 million and if Martin signs a three year deal, he would also be for 8 million and both in walk years. Down to around 100 million for LF/RF. Swish and Gardner make what, 10+ now between the two? Say you sign two Swisher deals (likely less) that’s still 80 million for the rest of the rotation. Hughes and Pineda as of right now would be inexpensive. Kuroda/Garcia is 14 million right now so even if they combined that to one pitcher that’s 4 spots taken up without even mentioning betances (who can be one of the solutions ni the bullpen) or Banuelos, both of whom would be extremely affordable.So even if it took 10 million to give to Hughes/Pineda and another 14 million to replace Kuroda and Garcia, you still have 55 million to spend…..Banuelos and Betances willc ost what? 3-4 million?
50 million and your bullpen/rotation/lineup are set. They’ll be fine.
Didn’t your team sign a 36 year old OF and 33 year old OF to $20+ million and $18+ million contracts not too long ago.
my team has one of the worst GMs in baseball. not sure why you would want to compare.
also, yankee fans have much, much higher expectations than fans of pretty much any other team in any other sport. if they aren’t filled with superstars and built to win, fans will not be happy.
The Yankee Dynasty did not really have any big name superstars. The only big name superstar that I can think of that they had was Roger Clemens. They didn’t have the 40-50 HR hitters like several other teams had.
If Cashman can’t figure out a way to build the rest of the roster with $125 mil then he’s not as good as I think he is. Cashman has a very good game plan going. Just theoretically speaking, starting next year, the starting staff (if things go right and that’s not a given) will probably look something like Sabathia, Pineda, Nova, Hughes/Joba and Betances/Banuelos. That entire staff would probably be about $30-$35 mil for the next 3 years (not including whatever they owe for AJ). Compare that to the $50 mil or so it cost us in 2011.
Also, by 2014 we PROBABLY won’t be replacing Mo or Soriano with pitchers costing $25 mil.
The most expensive positions to fill would be those held by Granderson, Swisher, Cano, Jeter and Arod (assuming he moves to DH by 2014). The Yanks have some interesting positions players but they are all below AA right now and it’s hard to forecast which ones are going to be all-star caliber players vs “functional” mlb players.
I’m not too worried about it though. The contracts for Sabathia and Tex end when they are around 35/36 which is about the right time to cut bait. I don’t think there will be any more Arod or Jeter type contracts handed out (I can see Cano getting a 7 or 8 year extension but 10 seems unlikely). With $180 mil to play with and a recent emphasis on player development I think we’ll be fine.
I hope Bans and Bets have dominant 2012 seasons at AAA. At worst they can make for excellent trade bait to maybe land an equivalent to Pineda in the form of a position player. I could see that happening if the Yanks land one of the big free agent pitchers next offseason.
CC + a Hamels/Cain + Pineda + Nova + Hughes could make Bans or Bets expendable. Maybe another deal with one of them and maybe another prospect for another young 3B or OF could be possible?
Don’t wanna sound weird, but I don’t see STL as a contender this year. (Not saying the A’s will neither). Crisp said he wants to play for west coast, and in OAK, he’s pretty much gonna be the star with McCarthy, Cespedes, Weeks and others rather than a “nobody” with the STL.
Underdog STL 2011 WS was also because of their 1 game ahead of their Wild Card. With Pujols and La Russa gone, I just don’t see them winning NL Central or being 1st in the Wildcard.
Keep in mind, they got to the playoffs as they did without Wainwright, who they will have this season, and if he’s anything close to the Wainwright of old (which isn’t a guarantee, I understand), he will add further wins to an already strong rotation. Secondly, while they will lose production with Pujols gone, it won’t be as steep as some people imagine if Beltran and Berkman perform adequately (Which again, may not be a guarantee). If you don’t buy either of those two things, I understand why you would be bullish on the Cardinals.
As for TLR, I’ve had my share of disagreements with the guy, and I don’t think managers have a big impact on the game as some people seem to think.
I’m just not sure if Beltran is enough to replace Pujols. I would be shocked if Beltran could even play 130 games this year.
Plus, let’s not act as if the Cards were world beaters last year. They won the WC with 90 games. I’M NOT SAYING THEY WON’T COMPETE, but while the Brewers won’t have Prince they are still the team to beat. Add to that a much improved Reds rotation, a much improved Nats, Marlins and any of the underacheiving teams in the West and the Cards are going to have a fight in the Central and for the WC spots in general, even with the additional spot.
I wonder what a Martin deal would look like? 4 years/$34.5MM when you include his 2012 salary? That seems perfect.
I hope a new contract will inspire him to hit better than league average this season…
Yanks can sign him. Salty was nearly as good in less at-bats and I believe he was cheaper as well.
what does that have to do with anything
If they are considering a 3 year deal, would it be wise to offer him more than, say 8m AAV after he slowed down with the bat after the AS break? I understand catchers are at a premium and martin is a really decent catcher, plus a whole lot better than montero who will be available after the season, but not sure would go much higher than the 7.5m he is making already this year and over 2-3 seasons.
I dont like this. Hes had injury problems the previous 2 years with the Dodgers. His bat is less than spectacular, the only reason he had adequate #s was b/c of an amazing April, besides that he was below average. Defensively he was great, but I believe Romine can replicate him in that respect, and apparently hes good with pitchers down in the minors. Add on to the fact the Yankees want to trim payroll, I dont get it, youd cut at least 7 mil a year by simply replacing Martin with Romine. If anything just see what Martin does this year, whats the hurry. At least give Romine a chance, if Martin has a monster year (highly doubtful) good for him, collect your draft picks and move on, if not, good thing you didnt extend him.
If they don’t agree on a contract now they won’t until the post season…Yanks Don’t Negotiate during the season
Fug that Yankees, move on.
He should give the Yanks a good discount. Yankee Stadium likes him
Doesn’t mean Yankee fans like him. At least like him THAT much.
You lost me bud. Who gives a hoot what the fans think?
Yeah. Yankee fans often “hate” some of their biggest and most productive stars so fan “love” or “hate” is a moot point.
I’d love to see Russell back in Dodger blue in 2013. Hopefully the Yankees low-ball him and he hits free agency after a big 2012.
As long as Ned isn’t handling the negotiations.
Ned is living on borrowed time. He’ll either be unemployed or soon-to-be unemployed come May 1.
That is ridiculous. If you want a raise, raise your batting average above your weight. All-Star or not, you had a mediocre season at best. Your defense is great but that doesn’t get you more than 7 mill a year…