TORONTO – Canadian Russell Martin says having the chance to play close to home was “high up there” on his list of reasons for deciding to join the Toronto Blue Jays.
The five-year, US$82-million contract the team put on the table didn’t hurt either.
“It was a great deal overall,” he told a news conference Thursday, two days after the team announced they had signed him as a free agent. “For me, the opportunity to play at home and the contract that was offered just made a lot of sense to me.”
With Dioner Navarro already in the fold, Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said landing another catcher wasn’t in the team’s off-season plans. But landing the veteran Martin was too enticing for them to pass up.
“We were very happy with the work that Dioner Navarro did,” he said. “This deal for us was all about Russ Martin, one of the only players we’d ever consider making a change with. He was just the perfect fit for us in so many ways. That’s really what it came down to.”
The Blue Jays enjoyed a strong first half last season before fading after the all-star break and settling for a third-place finish in the American League East with an 83-79 record.
Martin brings some additional pop in a lineup that already boasts sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. The Canadian also has the experience to groom up-and-coming youngsters like Marcus Stroman, Drew Hutchison and possibly Aaron Sanchez in a starting rotation that is anchored by R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle.
He also has plenty of post-season experience, having reached the playoffs in seven of the last nine years. The Blue Jays have not reached the post-season since winning a second straight World Series title in 1993.
“He’s just a complete player in so many ways,” said Anthopoulos. “He’s a winner as well. Everywhere he goes he seems to win … He’s also a great player offensively and defensively. He’s a great athlete, great in the clubhouse, great off the field as well. As much money as we’ve spent and the commitment that we’ve made, you can’t feel better about where we’re putting our dollars and who we’re giving it to. He’s a total package as far as I’m concerned. There are no holes in his game.”
Martin’s contract is the biggest one handed out by Anthopoulos since taking over from J.P. Ricciardi in October 2009. It’s the second-biggest contract ever for the Blue Jays, trailing only the $126-million, seven-year deal given to outfielder Vernon Wells following the 2006 season.
Martin, who grew up in Chelsea, Que., decided to test the free agent market after declining Pittsburgh’s $15.3-million qualifying offer earlier this month.
The 31-year-old backstop, who’s a three-time all-star had a strong defensive campaign and also hit .290 with 11 homers and 67 RBIs last season.
He’s hoping he can help take the Jays to the next level.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to help this team be better on the field,” said Martin, who also took questions in French.
He said he brings some key skills to the table.
“My ability to frame pitches (is) something that I take a lot of pride in,” he said. “It’s getting talked about a little more than it used to but those are little subtle things I can bring to a team as far as getting a strike here a strike there. And obviously executing a gameplan and making sure the pitchers have trust in me and that they believe in me.”
The five-foot-10, 205-pounder has a career .259 average with 119 home runs and 540 RBIs in nine seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Pirates.
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