Pirates catcher Russell Martin rejected an extension offer made by the team at some point during the season, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Terms of the offer (or its precise timing) are not known. There are no indications that the sides are close on a late-breaking deal to keep Martin off the market, Heyman adds.
Pittsburgh reportedly has continued interest in bringing back Martin, and this reported mid-season effort lends credence to the idea that they will be serious in pursuit. On the other hand, of course, Martin stands alone among free agent backstops, and plenty of other clubs figure to make a run at him.
The Bucs had preliminary discussions with Martin in the spring, but held off on making an offer. That may have cost the team its window to reach a deal. Martin has delivered plenty of value on the two-year, $17MM deal he signed with Pittsburgh before the 2013 season, and his .290/.402/.430 line in 2014 brought him into a new performance tier. MLBTR’s Charlie Wilmoth profiled Martin’s rising standing in August.
I at least truly think they’re trying
If the Pirates truly do “break the bank” on a player, I’d rather it be a frontline pitcher. I don’t know if Martin will ever be able to replicate this past year. He’ll still be a good catcher, mostly due to his defense, but I wouldn’t be too sad if the Pirates pulled out before some other team overpays. Because that’s what’s going to happen.
The only issue is that the Pirates have no other legitimate options. Chris Stewart and Tony Sanchez does not seem like a duo that would be ideal. Plus, there are no other FA options.
There are ALWAYS options – I love Martin as a Pirate fan – but he is arguably the 4th best catcher in the division. Molina is the master, Lecroy hits a lot better, and Mesoroco is younger and improving.
Trades are possible – the Bucs have farm system depth – and an aggressive promo of one of their young solid defensive guys could work out.
lambo to catch?
McGuire – would not be the first time a first round pick was rushed to the majors – he can figure things out in the next 3-5 years.
Why should Martin be penalized because he’s played in a division with great catching?
And no, McGuire will not be in the bigs next year. The kid has a career OPS in the minors under .700 and he’s only nineteen. Elias Diaz is a much more likely possibility.
Why should he be overpaid – he misses 50 games a year – and has a low slugging percentage. Yes he is a very good defensive catcher – so is Rivera at San Diego – and a number of others. I love him and want him back. But the Bucs need a solid bat at first base – might be Pedro – but they need to hedge that bet. The need a top of rotation starter – I would like Big Game James – but there are other possibles. And then they need some good luck in how their crop of prospects advances.
NH does not rush prospects: Hence Kingham, Glasnow in high-A plus more
Playing hard to get are we?
Hey Neal, nothing is hard to get if you got 4/50. But now that I have finished my season with a 400 obp, reasonable pop, good defense and killer pitcher framing its going to be more like 5/70.
AND that is a huge overpay…
No argument on that here. But reality is reality. He is almost certainly getting something close to 5/70 on the free agent market. The market is starved for any kind of decent veteran catching which drives his numbers up. He just had his best season since his early days as a Dodger. And these front offices love his pitch framing skils. It’s just a perfect storm and that’s why I would stay away from it if I was Huntington.
If they fail to re-sign Martin, I’m curious as to whether they’d want to swing a trade for either Christian Vazquez or Blake Swihart. Neither are very proven, but short of Soto or Ross, both of whom are best suited for part time duties, there aren’t a ton of free agent options.
The Sox will demand a lot for Vazquez, he’s a good young defensive catcher. As for Swihart, I doubt his name gets mention in any deal that does not get the Sox a high value target in return. So don’t count on the Pirates and the Red Sox coming to terms without a third party.
I’m certain that they could get good trade value for either player. The Pirates have the pieces to pull off either though.
It looks like Vazquez is at least going to be in a time share and I really can’t see giving up Swihart for less than Taillon. ThEy will sound silly to Bugs fans and others but Swihart took serious steps forward at the upper levels of the minors at 22 last year which is young for a catcher in the development phase. I think these are the kind of problems the Bucs are going to run into at catcher next year. Good Catchers cost money or prospects. Kind of like what the Sox are looking at in their search for an ace.
It’s a good year to be a(the) FA catcher isn’t it? I still think Russell Martin should sign with the Cubs. The Pirates could look to the Yankees and trade for Francisco Cervelli or John Ryan Murphy.
The Cubs have a 3 WAR catcher in Castillo. They have bigger needs.
Yep. And I think Castillo is going to be very good. And the Cubs need pitching the most, but as I’ve been saying for a few days they need someone with experience alongside all those young players. I think Russell Martin might be that guy.
But Castillo is among the worst in MLB in framing. Drives his value down significantly. Almost to the point he’s replacement level. The Cubs need an upgrade there.
I agree. He’s not a long-term keeper for the Cubs. The only problem with signing Martin is the Cubs aren’t ready to win yet, despite what Theo says.
Castillo is one of the worst when it comes to pitch-framing (I’ve long grown tired of watching him snatch/yank borderline pitches, although he’s not as bad as Pierzynski), but according to Fangraphs, he’s still a solid defensive catcher (rSB, CPP, RPP). Still above league average when it comes to throwing out attempted base-stealers, and he is just a year removed from 19 DRS and 4.5 bWAR. Martin would be a good get, but I think the Cubs will stick with Wels rather than give 4-5 years to someone 5 years older, and while better, not exactly lightyears ahead of Castillo. Plus if it’s decided that a replacement is needed, the switch-hitting, 21 year-old Caratini is on the farm and may get a AA shot in ’15.
If I were the Bucs, I wouldn’t have made a contract offer either before the season. By the same token, if I was Martin, I wouldn’t have accepted a mid season extension offer in the middle of that fantastic season. I do think that the Bucs and Martin can get something reasonable agreed upon, but I sure won’t blame Martin, or the Bucs, if Martin goes elsewhere to the highest bidder and that bidder breaks the bank to do it
Gonna be a fun bidding war. Good for you Mr. Martin. I got money on the White Sox, Rangers, or Rockies if they can trade Cargo and free the money.
Be interesting to see how the new young GM plays this. Did O’Dowd leave because Monfort refused his proposal to trade CArGo or Tulo?
I wonder what the Rox think of Plawecki, and can a deal around him for CarGo be arranged?
Good call on the Sox – I think they have a shot at signing Martin.
if he goes so does the ability to get the most out of pitchers who were supposed to be washed up francisco liriano, and frank volquez. . Although alot of it is ray searage a think alot of it is russell martin as well. I think they will take a big step back.
not worried about a midseason offer… if you think midseason we were still fighting back into it
Tigers need to make a decision of Avila and his concussion problem.
Catcher is such an important position that they may consider Martin over re-signing VMART… especially if the VMART price-tag gets out of hand.
They could then platoon Martin (2/3rd of games) and Avila (1/3rd)… and put Martin at 1st base (Miggy at DH) when Avila is catching. That way, they would not need a back up catcher… and Martin could play 140+ games even as he gets older.
I love Martin but whoever signs him will be paying for past performance, as he’s coming off of a season he’s very unlikely to ever replicate again. Yes, his defense should still be solid for one or two more years (catchers age quickly), but I think it will take 4 years, $60M to sign him and those last two years could get ugly. Then again, if the Pirates win a WS it will certainly have been worth it.
Fiskm, Posada, Pudge and a couple of others would disagree with you on catcher aging…
Steroid era skewed a lot of things. Plus there are always exceptions to any rule.
And let’s not even compare Martin to them. He’s a good catcher, but those guys were the best in their days.
Was not meant to compare-only noted with regard to the “aging” idea. Each catcher is different. Fangraphs did a nice piece a while back non the catcher aging curve-pretty much matches other positions.
As I noted elsewhere – some of the Martin thing is a bit over the top-he is arguably the #4 catcher in the NL Central. Mesaroco is much younger and cheaper and has more power – both Lucroy and Molina are his defensive equals and Lucroy is a better hitter.