Earlier this morning, reports indicated that the Mariners are interested in, if not prioritizing Victor Martinez (as well as Hanley Ramirez), which meshes with previous reports that the team will likely show interest. As one of the top free agents on the market, Martinez will likely find his name swirling about the rumor mill, and we’ll keep track of today’s V-Mart talk here…
- The Blue Jays are now among the teams interested in Martinez, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Though the team perhaps has a greater need in the infield, Heyman writes that the trade of Adam Lind has opened a door for Martinez to fit into the picture in Toronto. Heyman hears that the Tigers and Mariners are the other two primary suitors in the early stages, noting that Martinez is high on Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik’s wish list.
AA is “interested” in any good player…
Rogers is NOT “interested” in paying them and Beeston is not “interested” in going over five years.
Move on folks. Nothing to see here!
They’re signing someone this year, they have too. They would’ve sold out the stadium had they done anything at all last off-season, I mean they were in first place for 2 months and nobody cared enough to buy a ticket because we all felt it was inevitable the team would collapse one way or another, the team was relatively the same as the one in 2013 minus the super productive month of Juan Fransisco.
But because of the poor off-season, fans instead bought into the team during the declining month of August when the team tanked. The difference could’ve been a astronomical gain for T.V ratings and attendance.
I’ve seen too many photos of Bautista with Martinez over the years to know the two are obvious good friends. I believe his son is also a huge fan of Bautista’s with a few impersonating instagrams videos posted by Joeybats.
So for what it’s worth if Bautista doesn’t give Martinez a few calls during the negotiation period I will be very displeased.
Since he came to Detroit, I’ve seen Victor talk with everyone and his son is almost always right there with him talking to players and sometimes playing with players. I wouldn’t read too much into a friendship with Bautista being a key in negotiations.
I’ve seen pictures of them golfing together.
Like I said, he has friends on every team. Much like Cubans wanting to play on teams with Cubans, people tend to overstate how much effect being friends with somebody plays into negotiations.
Victor has been a leader and fan favorite in Detroit since 2011. I’d be willing to bet that he has more friends in Detroit than Toronto.
yep Jack
so?
You don’t go golfing with just anyone.
Or any friendship of any player entering into the equation significantly when it comes to free agents choosing locations.
V-Mart is a popular man. During the Home Run Derby, I thought it was interesting to see him be close to Yoenis Cespedes as the A’s/Tigers have a bit of a rivalry there.
And Bautista is also a popular man too. I can see Bautista trying to lure V-Mart to Toronto.
I’m sure Bautista will give him a call, but so will players from a dozen different teams.
Yeah, V-Mart has a lot of connections throughout the Majors.
I would lol if he went to the ChiSox though after the whole binocular incident with Chris Sale.
BUT, V-Mart did come to the Tigers after the whole Ricky P incident when he beaned V-Mart and then got charged by Youkilis.
THAT would be uproarious DK
Agreed, same could have been said about Oritz and Bautista and it made no difference… money then opportunity to win, are all that matters (in most cases)
yep
Can we just make a deal for Saunders already?
He’d be a nice add, if we’re hoping for him to put us over the top and finally make the playoffs I think we might as well start the fire sale. We don’t have a potent #5 bat or #4 bat depending if Cabrera resigns or not.
Not to put us over the top… we could actually USE HIM. He’ll be cheaper then Melky, can play all three OF spots and platoon with Mayberry Jr hitting against lefties. Save that money to upgrade the other areas of need.
Yeah, I’m not saying he’s not a bad addition. He’s a 2WAR player though, he’d hit where? 5th, 6th? Your priorities are wrong if you think Sanders is more than what he’s proven to be in Seattle so far. He’s injury prone and that in Toronto spells disaster.
You don’t have a potent #4 or #5 bat? you’re kidding right? Bautista and Encarnacion are both those things. Teams would kill to have both on the same team.
Who’s hitting in our #2 hole? As things stand today, Bautista’s going to be hitting there if Cabrera doesn’t resign. Before writing something you should use your head to figure out what you’re responding to.
Hahaha the fact that Bautista is in your #2 spot is semantics, btw he only had 88 appearances there last year. He is a traditional #4 or #5 bat. You are dillusional if you think all these teams have the bats you guys have. Sure, Melky is going to be gone if you dont bring him back, but why vmart? He provides you nothing other than a DH. Spend your limited resources on things you need (Pitching and Defense) rather than things you would like to have.
He batted there once Cabrera got hurt.. IE: Last month of the season. I have no disillusion about our great top of the order, however excusing the fact that none of our sluggers ever stay healthy our depth has been exposed in back to back years. Bautista, Encarnacion, Reyes and Lawrie are guaranteed injuries at this point. Lind is also injury prone so in one way, I’m glad he’s gone. However, how does having a great offense that can’t stay healthy help late in the season (IE: August) when our team only scores 85 runs in a month because everyone is hurt?
Unless baseball has changed, teams win games by scoring more runs than the other team. Also, run prevention in a homer friendly environment is never a good strategy.
You’ve also changed your argument 100 times in this thread, first it was “bad pitching” than it was “mediocre division” than it’s “bad defense”. Make up your mind.
Because he’s Canadian?
and an upgrade
BTW, Gibbons mentioned Victor on the radio last week, as a player that AA wants to chase. I thought it should have been newsworthy at that time. I doubt AA wanted Gibbons to leak that.
…Maybe the Blue Jays should allocate their resources to add a starting pitcher, rather than another bat in the lineup.
R.A Dickey, Buerhle, and Stroman need some help!
Well, yeah. I’d find it strange if a team said they weren’t interested in a guy like VMart.
The day the stooges at Rogers make a big play on a major FA is the day the earth stood still.
Ah, the standard Toronto Smokescreen, it shows up at the beginning of every offseason and fails to fool fans more often than the team fails to sign players.
Actually, only the agents think they are fooling anyone… most fans assume the Jays won’t be signing players of his stature.
Yeah…and how much will he ask for? Probably something ridiculous like $20M/year so I doubt the Jays will end up signing him. Still wondering how a guy who had never hit more than 25 homeruns (and that was 7 years ago) can hit a career-high 32, and also a career-best .335 BA at the age of 35. He’s always been a solid .300 hitter with decent power but his stats last year were off the charts. Not sure if he can repeat next year.
Let’s just all agree there’s no way in hell VMart, Sandoval or any other significant free agent (Jed Lowrie MAYBE… not that he falls into the “significant” category) signs with the Blue Jays under this regime. Although a lot has been made of the pros and cons to it… Beeston and AA’s 5 year policy is going to to exclude them from ever signing top-end talent. Why? Because top end talent doesnt sign 1-4 year Free Agency contracts very often unless they’re a) returning from injury, b) rebuilding their value, c) giving their team a discount (ala Bautista/Edwin), d) they’re bullpen pieces or aging stars past their prime or e) they’re buying out their arbitration years o make more money until they hit free agency. Signability of top free agents is directly attributed to fair market value and financial commitment. Great players arent going to sell themselves short on dollars or leave themselves in short contracts and be hampered by compensation being tied to them when they are tendered and have to deal with what Morales/Drew did last year. I know I wouldnt.The “policy” spits in the face of conventional wisdom. Its hard enough to convince ballplayers to come north to play baseball on turf as it is… but to limit your pool of talent by refusing to consider signing a player to a deal longer then 5 years is outright absurd and stubborn. Why do you think AA had to sell the farm to acquire Reyes, Dickey, Buehrle, etc? Because if management isnt willing to meet their $$$/terms then the only way to improve/upgrade is via trade. Its a vicious cycle and until it stops, get used to being snubbed by high end free agents and get used to the Justin Smoaks, Danny Valencias and John Mayberry Jrs of the world.
And dont misunderstand me… Im a die-hard jays fan through and through, but this leadership team is frustrating. I moved to Ohio in 2000, and i STILL don my jays gear all summer and winter long. My loyalty to the Jays will never waiver, but my loyalty to the way the team is run from ownership on down to player personnel is getting to be a little redundant. I want to to see meaningful September baseball… i just question whether the Ambiguously Vague Duo can get it accomplished before they’re run out of town.
I think you need to keep in mind how far the Jays have come in terms of the strength of the system in the last 3-4 years.
And that the Justin Smoaks, Danny Valencias and John Mayberry Jrs of the world are how the Jays got the Edwin Encarnacions and Jose Bautistas of the world.
If you connect the dots, it is obvious that his agent is trying to get the “smoke” going to compel Mike Ilitch (Tigers Owner) to give him what ever he wants.
We have seen this script before EIGHT times:
1. Pudge
2. Magglio
3 and 4. Verlander and then Verlander again.
5 and 6. Miggy and then Miggy again.
7. Anibal
8. Fielder
It would be a tough pick between Seattle and the Jays, I think the Mariners are closer to winning they have the pitching!
I can’t see the Jays both PAYING V-Mart what it will cost to sign him, AND forfeiting the 1st round draft pick they would have to give up. Given that he is no longer an every day fielder, I see his market as being the Astros, Rangers, Twins, Red Sox, White Sox, and of course Tigers, who I expect to resign him.
I agree 100%. The only team who loses nothing by signing him is Detroit. I dont see a team giving up a 1st round pick PLUS a severe overpay for VMart at this stage of his career.
I don’t see V-Mart making more than David Ortiz, since DH’s have never been paid much and he’s the closest precedent. You’d be looking at Martinez to make 4yrs/59M or 3yrs/45M.
Martinez would be something special with the Jays, I don’t see it personally but I hope they planned on replacing Lind with someone who’s good.
Stopppppp getting my hopes up.
Don’t see it happening unless the Jays get rid of Buerhle’s 20 million for next year
I hope the Jays deal him. He’s been decent, but he’s too expensive.
With the talk last year of players moving around salary just to potentially fit E.Santana, this just doesn’t seem realistic.
Victor stays in Detroit. Max is gone. End of discussion.