It’s another year and another former New York Yankee catcher is having success with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Almost feels like clockwork at this point. First it was signing Russell Martin in 2013, and then last year it was acquiring Chris Stewart for cash. This year, it was trading for Francisco Cervelli. The 29-year-old has been a quality backstop for the Pirates and is only costing the team $987,500 this year. But so far this year, how does Cervelli stack up against Martin, who signed ... Read More
Martin rejects qualifying offer
As expected, Russell Martin has rejected the Pirates $15.3 million qualifying offer as reported by Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. no surprise, martin, who has very strong market, will reject qualifying offer. #cubs #bucs #la http://t.co/5yEON4CFYD— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 10, 2014 Martin — who is the biggest free agent at catcher — is expected to get a large multi-year offer which could be as high as $13-$15 million per year over a 4-5 year contract. Martin ... Read More
Martin named Wilson Defensive Catcher of the Year
Wilson named their Defensive Players of the Year on Wednesday, an award given to the best defensive player at each position among the MLB. They named Pirates catcher Russell Martin the Defensive Catcher of the Year a day after Martin finished behind Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina for the NL Rawlings Gold Glove Award at the position. Martin finished in the top five in four of the major defensive categories among Major League catchers placing fifth in runs added (19.3) — a pitch framing ... Read More
Martin, Marte fall short of Gold Glove Award
Russell Martin and Starling Marte — finalists at their positions for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award for the second consecutive year — finished behind Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich. Martin posted a .994 fielding percentage with five errors in 880 chances behind the plate along with three passed balls. Molina — who played in the same amount of games — finished with a .998 fielding percentage with two errors in 868 chances while allowing three passed ... Read More
Pirates give Martin, Liriano qualifying offers
The Pittsburgh Pirates have given qualifying offers of $15.3 million each to Russell Martin and Francisco Liriano. Martin — who is the best catcher on the free agent market — posted a slash line of .290/.430/.832 with 11 home runs, 20 doubles and 67 RBI in 460 plate appearances. He struck out only 78 times which is second-lowest in his nine year career. Martin is a finalist for a gold glove award at catcher thanks to another solid season behind the plate posting a .994 fielding percentage ... Read More
Pirates to extend qualifying offer to Martin
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports the Pirates plan on giving a $15.3 million qualifying offer to Russell Martin, as expected. pirates plan to extend qualifying offer to star catcher russell martin. http://t.co/eBh36gEk4q — Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) October 16, 2014 This should not come as a surprise to anyone as Pirates management has publicly said they plan on going out of their comfort zone to try and keep the catcher in Pittsburgh. Heyman previously reported that the Pirates ... Read More
Pay the man
There have been many men that have stepped up for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2014 season helping them make their second straight playoff appearance. One man that has been consistent throughout and a staple for this squad is Russell Martin. When the team signed him prior to the 2013 season, fans questioned his abilities. Martin hit .211 with 21 home runs and 53 RBI in 133 games with the Yankees in 2012 and was thought only as a defensive upgrade to what the Pirates had in Michael McKenry and ... Read More
Huntington willing to make big push to keep Russell Martin
Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington went on 93.7 "The Fan" this afternoon and told the show they are willing to go beyond their normal limits to try and keep catcher Russell Martin. #Pirates GM Neal Huntington just told us that "We are going to go way beyond our comfort level to keep Russell Martin" #CookandPoni Show — Joe Kapp (@937Catfish) September 24, 2014 Martin will be, by far, the best free agent catching candidate this offseason as he is having a career year at the ... Read More
Worley, Martin draw Pirates closer to postseason in 1-0 win
A Russell Martin one-out RBI single in the seventh inning was all Vance Worley and Tony Watson needed as the Pirates pulled off a 1-0 victory over the Brewers bringing their playoff magic number down to three. Martin's two-strike, run scoring single — He accounted for four of five Pirates RBI in the series — was the first hit out of the infield as the Pirates (84-71) recorded three infield hits up to that point — two by Josh Harrison and one by Andrew McCutchen to start the inning — against ... Read More
Martin’s late home run lifts Pirates past Brewers
The Pirates were held to four hits against Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo in his seven innings of work, but a three-run home run by Russell Martin against Milwaukee reliever Jonathan Broxton in the eighth helped the Bucs pull of a 4-2 win in front of a playoff atmosphere at PNC Park on Friday night. The Brewers (79-75) were rolling along behind Gallardo after scoring twice off of Pirates starter Jeff Locke. Ryan Braun hit a one-out hustle double in the first and scored on a Jonathan Lucroy ... Read More