First Peter Gammons, then John Heyman are reporting that the Jays are signing Russell Martin for Brian McCann money. Whatever the number that is a big pile of cash. The number now being reported is five years for $82M.
The Jays also announced Brook Jacoby as their new hitting coach.
Russell Martin is an excellent sign for the Blue Jays, particularly for the next few years. The last couple of years of the deal might not deliver value, ageing catchers usually do not deliver $17M of value. But Martins biggest contributions will be on defense. He is an excellent pitch framer, he works well with pitchers and manages the game very well from behind the plate. The Jays have little in the way of payroll commitments after next year so they can afford to carry some dead weight in those years.
So what becomes of Dioner Navarro? Is he now a backup catcher and part time DH? What of Josh Thole and RA Dickey? This might be the first of several dominos to fall.
Also Jason Heyward was just traded..... Heyward and Jordan Walden from the Braves to the Reds for Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins.
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