Report: Yanks to sign Russell Martin ?? That makes 4 Catchers for the Yanks

Spurned by Cliff Lee, the New York Yankees reportedly began spending the money that was to be allotted to the left-handed ace by agreeing to a contract with catcher Russell Martin, MLB.com reported.

Russell Martin

#55 C
Los Angeles Dodgers

2010 STATS

• GM97
• HR5
• RBI26
• R45
• OBP.347
• AVG.248

Terms were not available, according to MLB.com, which reported that the deal is expected to be officially announced later Tuesday.


The former Los Angeles catcher was nontendered this month after the Dodgers refused to meet his demand for a guaranteed $5 million deal.


The Red Sox also had made an offer to Martin.


Martin appeared to be a rising star in 2007, when he batted .293 with 19 homers and 87 RBIs. He won a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger award and made the first of two consecutive All-Star appearances. But his production has dropped off the past two seasons.


Martin, who will turn 28 in Februrary, tore the labrum in his hip early in August and missed the rest of last season. He hit .248 in 97 games last season but had an on-base percentage of .347.


Martin is likely to assume starting catcher duties for the Yankees next season while Jorge Posada becomes the team's full-time designated hitter.


Posada batted only .248 last season with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs in 120 games. The switch hitter has been limited by injuries since his last All-Star season, 2007, when he hit a career high .338 with 20 home runs and 90 RBIs. Posada caught 83 games last season, was DH 28 games and played first base once.


He spent 15 days on the disabled list with a fractured foot in mid-May and missed scattered games throughout the season with what was termed a Baker Cyst behind his left knee, which made crouching behind the plate difficult and painful.

just shows they don't have much faith in dopey cervelli.

Jorge will be DH the whole season, Martin and Montero fighting for the C spot, while Cervelli needs to get shipped out.

montero is not really catching anymore, they will break him at dh when posada gets a game or 2 off a week. martin and cervelli will handle 90% of catching duties i imagine. i dont expect jesus to start the yr off in the bigs to begin with

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-of-russell-martin-paying-off-early-in-season

MLB: New York Yankees Signing of Russell Martin Paying off Early in Season


By Orly Rios Jr.
(Correspondent) on April 9, 2011 - New York City





Yankees' catcher Russell Martin hit 2 home runs and drove in 4 runs in Saturday's 9-4 win over the Red Sox.
Jim Rogash/Getty Images Eight games into the 2011 season, former Los Angeles Dodgers' catcher Russell Martin may be the best signing in the American League.
The New York Yankees picked up Martin despite rumors circulating that they were about to call up one of their prized prospects, catcher Jesus Montero from the minors.
Instead, Martin won the job in Spring Training and so far, his signing along with his bat, have allowed the Yankees to play around with their lineup, moving Jorge Posada to the DH spot full time.
The result? Martin is hitting close to .300 with 3 home runs and 8 rbis, and most of this while hitting near the bottom of the lineup.
In the long run, Martin may ease the pressure off the Yankees to call up Montero from the minors or allow them, as they almost did last season, to trade Montero because of the early offensive production of Russell Martin.
Just 28 years old, Martin is two years removed from being named to his second all-star selection (2007 and 2008).
His offensive production had dropped every year since 2007 thanks in some part to injuries, and after the Dodgers released Martin in December, he signed a 1-year deal worth $4 million with the Yankees.
On Saturday afternoon, Martin, hitting 9th in the lineup, blasted two home runs. The first, a three run shot over the Green Monster, came off a hanging curve ball off of Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz. The blast extended the Yankee lead to 5-1.
Martin's second shot came off of former Yankee relief pitcher Alfredo Aceves, a blast to the last row of the green monster to put the finishing touches on the Yankees 9-4.
So far so good for both the Yankees and Russell Martin.

hell yeah its paying off...