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Blue Jays Sign Russell Martin To 5 Year Deal

By Ted Schwerzler

Sep 19, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Russell Martin (55) reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a three run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the eighth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Russell Martin (55) reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a three run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the eighth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Russell Martin signed a five-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays and in turn snubbed the Chicago Cubs.

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The Toronto Blue Jays and catcher Russell Martin have agreed to a five-year, $82 million deal today. After spending two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Martin hit the free agent market and was widely regarded as the best catching option out there. Toronto made him their priority and landed the 31-year-old backstop Monday morning.

With the Cubs regarded as the front-runners all along, the Toronto Blue Jays swooped in and locked up Martin for the next five seasons. With the Chicago Cubs creeping in on Martin, Toronto knew they needed to get the deal in place sooner rather than later.

Both Jon Heyman and Peter Gammons broke the news on Martin’s signing.

While Dioner Navarro had a great season in 2014 for the Blue Jays, Toronto was able to find themselves a significant upgrade in the form of Martin.

Last season across 111 games for the Pirates, Martin batted .290/.402/.430 and hit 11 home runs with 67 runs batted in. Behind the plate Martin threw out 39% of potential base stealers in 2014, well above the league average of 28%.

As the Blue Jays had Navarro already on the roster, and Canada typically being a less than attractive destination, it seemed as if the Blue Jays would miss on Martin. However, Russell Martin is from Montreal himself, and the paycheck putting him in the realm of Brian McCann‘s Yankees contract seemed to seal the deal.

As the Blue Jays look to continue to try and narrow the gap in the AL East, look for them to stay active throughout the rest of the free agency period.

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