Retaining Victor Martinez No Easy Task With Tigers, Mets and More Needing a Backstop
According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Detroit Tigers are preparing to go hard after Martinez this offseason.
The Tigers have 23-year-old Alex Avila behind the plate. He is highly regarded but hit just .228 in 104 games in 2010. Backup Gerald Laird is a free agent.
Boston will have up to five days after the end of the World Series to be the sole negotiators with Martinez, 31. He has insisted he would like to remain with the Red Sox as a full-time catcher but was not entirely pleased when the club offered him a two-year extension in August.
It is assumed that Martinez will covet a four- or five-year deal worth at least $10 million annually, a price range the Tigers can afford. Their 2010 payroll ranked third in the American League behind the Yankees and Red Sox and they will have many millions coming off the books.
But Detroit is not the only team that could target Martinez. Below are a few more, with reasons for why they might make such a pursuit.
Baltimore Orioles
Martinez has insisted he wants to remain a catcher and the Orioles have budding star Matt Wieters behind the dish. If the money is right, however, it’s possible Martinez could be swayed into limiting his starts at catcher and playing more first base and designated hitter in a lineup starving for a big bat this offseason.
If Martinez is OK with a position shift he would be a great fit in Baltimore.
Colorado Rockies
Renck has reported that the Rockies have interest in Martinez but that the price tag could become too significant. Colorado owns a $2.6 million option on current starter Miguel Olivo, who took the spot held by Chris Iannetta, a guy who has been rumored to be in the Red Sox’ crosshairs on more than one occasion.
The Rox have 48 hours after the World Series ends to pick up the option, otherwise they may take their aim at Martinez. We will know the answer to that question before the Red Sox’ lose their sole negotiating rights to V-Mart.
The fact that Todd Helton is entering the final year of his contract (there is a $23 million option for 2012 that will not be picked up) gives the club flexibility to eventually move Martinez to first.
Texas Rangers
With the new ownership group in place the Rangers have the money, and they may have the need. Current hero Bengie Molina is a free agent and is already 36. Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez are still around, but neither are wowing the organization to the point at which it should not consider a guy like Martinez.
New York Mets
They are always in need of a big splash signing to keep pace with their in-city rivals, and lately some of those signings have involved former Red Sox players (Jason Bay, Pedro Martinez). Omir Santos is the current starter, with youngster Josh Thole waiting in the wings.
Seattle Mariners
Let’s be honest, the M’s need offense. One of the more pitiful attacks (if you can call it that) in recent memory will need upgrades or improvements at several positions on the offensive side of things, and catcher is at the top of the list.
Seattle catchers combined to hit .201 with 10 homers and 42 RBIs in 2010. Martinez doubled the home run and RBI production himself and hit 101 points higher. Yes, that would be an upgrade.
Adam Moore, who hit .195, is the most likely starter if the club does not make a move at catcher.
New York Yankees
We’re not saying it will happen, but we would not be completely shocked if Martinez found his way into pinstripes next year. The running Texas Rangers are doing plenty right now to expose the Yankees’ greatest weakness, its catching corps.
While he has had a wonderful career, Jorge Posada will turn 39 next year, the last year of his contract, and is coming off a campaign in which he threw out a career-low 15 percent of would-be base-stealers. Despite his experience he is a catcher only in name and will continue to pick up more and more time as the DH in 2011.
His backup, Francisco Cervelli, is a high-energy guy with a marginal bat but defensively ranks not much better than Posada. Top prospect Jesus Montero, while a dynamic offensive threat, is an improving defensive catcher but not a standout. Some have said he would be better suited for first base. The Yanks are all set there, hence the decision to offer Montero to Seattle in the Cliff Lee near-deal this summer.
Of course, the Red Sox would do whatever they could to prevent Martinez from joining their chief rival, but such a move is not without precedent (Damon, Johnny) and the Yanks could use an upgrade at catcher in the worst way. Martinez will not make anyone forget Johnny Bench in terms of his defensive skills, but he would be an improvement from anything New York has now and his bat would look pretty nice nestled next to names like Teixeira, Rodriguez and Cano.
