Veteran catcher Russell Martin will be returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The defending NL champions acquired Martin from the Toronto Blue Jays where he spent the past four seasons for two minor leaguers. Martin, who turns 36 next month, becomes a free agent after the 2019 season. Injuries limited Martin to 90 games in which he batted .194 with 10 HR and 25 RBI. Martin's reunion with the Dodgers comes only 48 hours after Yasmani Grandal signed a free agent contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Canadian born Martin began his professional career with the Dodgers who drafted him in the 17th round back in 2002 and would make his big league debut in 2006. Over five seasons, Martin was named to two NL All-Star Teams and won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award in 2007.
He joined the New York Yankees as a free agent in 2011 earning an AL All Star Team selection that year. After two seasons in the Bronx, Martin returned to the NL and caught with the Pittsburgh Pirates before opting to play in his home and native land in 2015 where he would he another AL All-Star Team selection. Martin enters the 2019 season with 1370 hits for a .249 lifetime batting average, 185 HR, 751 RBI and, surprisingly, 100 stolen bases. In recent years, Martin has shown his versatility playing the outfield, third base, second base and even played three games at shortstop for the Jays in 2018 as well as managed the team in their final regular season game.
Perhaps Martin is auditioning for Dave Roberts' job.
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