Russell Martin could be available??

[redsfan4445]

per mlbtraderumors:
"This one surprised me, but Sherman throws a new name as a possibility on the trade market: Russell Martin. Sherman cites rival executives in saying that the Dodgers aren't "enamored with his makeup" and that with front line catchers being hot commodities, the Dodgers could explore the market to see what Martin could bring in return. Personally, I think moving Martin would be a mistake, but I have to admit, Martin would indeed fetch a very nice return."


What about him as a catcher for the reds?

[jojo]

Sure.

[Highlifeman21]

DeWitt will be going back to 3B with Casey Blake going back to Cleveland, so LA will need a 2B.

Brandon Phillips, start lookin' for property in LA.

I hear it's a buyer's market.

[Scrap Irony]

I'd go Phillips and EdE for Martin. I don't think that gets it done, but that's a pretty subsantial offer, IMO. (I'd expect a low level prospect/ suspect along with Martin, though.)

[toledodan]

I'd go Phillips and EdE for Martin. I don't think that gets it done, but that's a pretty subsantial offer, IMO. (I'd expect a low level prospect/ suspect along with Martin, though.)

i'm glad your not the GM of the team. martin is a good player but thats way to much for him.

[Mario-Rijo]

DeWitt will be going back to 3B with Casey Blake going back to Cleveland, so LA will need a 2B.

Brandon Phillips, start lookin' for property in LA.

I hear it's a buyer's market.

Why do you think Blake is going back to Cleveland? Did you read this somewhere, if so do you have a link?

[Mario-Rijo]

I'd go Phillips and EdE for Martin. I don't think that gets it done, but that's a pretty subsantial offer, IMO. (I'd expect a low level prospect/ suspect along with Martin, though.)

They do not need EE as they seemingly plan on playing DeWitt there, thus why they don't plan on signing any FA 3B types or re-signing Blake. They appear to be after pitching in FA along with Furcal and maybe Manny. I could see where BP could fit them (Kent is a FA and will be 40) and as much as I hate to lose Brandon that's a "nearly have to" deal depending on if they want more and what that more is.

[Krusty]

Dodgers would be crazy to deal Martin.

[WebScorpion]

Dodgers would be crazy to deal Martin.

I agree. That guy is the heart and soul of their team. If they DO decide to move him though, the Reds better be in the conversation. If there's even a slim possibility that we could land the best catcher in the game at age 26 for prospects, we absolutely have to do it. That guy solves multiple problems for us: Catching, Right-handed pop, OBP, AND he steals bases! We'd be the only team in baseball who could double steal when their catcher and first baseman are on the bags. I'm sure this is just another rumor... why do I let these things get me worked up? Mmmmm...donuts.

[Highlifeman21]

Why do you think Blake is going back to Cleveland? Did you read this somewhere, if so do you have a link?

I'm trying to find where I heard that Casey Blake has a gentleman's agreement to return to Cleveland in the offseason.

IIRC, it was said during a Dodgers game I was watching.

I'll see if I can find it, if not my mind's playing games on me.

[PuffyPig]

I'd go Phillips and EdE for Martin. I don't think that gets it done, but that's a pretty subsantial offer, IMO. (I'd expect a low level prospect/ suspect along with Martin, though.)

Phillips alone would likely bring in Martin, if the Dodgers decided to move him.

Which I doubt.

[Highlifeman21]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/p...urn=mlb,107553

That's what I found re: Casey Blake going back to Cleveland.

Apparently there have been written reports, aside from commentary during ballgames.

[westofyou]

Why do you think Blake is going back to Cleveland? Did you read this somewhere, if so do you have a link?

http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/200...t_the_dea.html

They signed Blake to a one-year, $6.1 million deal in February to avoid arbitration. No one is going to starve on that kind of money, but the key to the deal was its length, not its monetary value.

If the Indians wanted Blake to stick around past 2008, they could have added a club option for 2009. A one-year deal, however, carries a different meaning.

"I was hoping for something [multiyear] because I like it here," Blake said, "but my gut feeling was they'd do a one-year deal. They've got a lot of issues to deal with -- C.C. and some other things."

This is not to say the Indians won't re-sign Blake after this year. But would it be as a 35-year-old third baseman or as a utility player? The Indians still don't know if Andy Marte is a big-league third baseman, but prospect Wes Hodges has been impressive and Beau Mills, last year's No.¤1 pick, can play third.

In Sabathia's situation, free agency may look like a shining path paved with stones of gold. Blake, who spent seven years bouncing from Toronto to Minnesota to Baltimore and back to Minnesota before getting a chance in Cleveland, knows the great unknown isn't always that great.

"I don't know if I get too excited about free agency," Blake said. "I'm familiar with this organization, they're familiar with me. They know what they have in me as a player.

"I like loyalty in this game. I'm not a huge fan of guys bouncing around from team to team, but you have to do what you have to do sometimes."

[westofyou]

BTW if YOU do want Martin it's not just what you'll be giving it will be also what you'll be getting:

Colletti will also need to resolve the futures of unproductive veteran outfielders Juan Pierre (.246 EqA), who has three years and $28.5 million remaining on his five-year, $44 million deal, and Andruw Jones (.170), who is owed $22.1 million on the two-year, $36 million pact that he signed as a free agent last winter.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...articleid=8225

[membengal]

These threads are always interesting if frustrating.

Let's try it this way:

IF Martin were truly made available, what would need to be put together to fetch him? I would assume, if LA were really to do this, they have in-house help in terms of replacing him. They DO need a 2b, and we do have Philliips, so that seems a potential match.

Would Phillips for Martin straight up work? I have no idea. None. But is it such an outlandish idea as to be dismissed outright? I don't think so.

The broader question is who has more value to the Reds, Martin or Phillips? My bias toward wanting a competent backstop for this team, along with it being easier to try and backfill Phillips' numbers at 2b as against how hard it is to find a quality C, makes this sort of framework for a potential hypothetical deal interesting.

IF Martin were to be available, I hope the Reds are aggressive in making inquiries. And I would have no qualms about Phillips being made available as part of those inquiries.

ETA: Just saw Chip's (oops, WOY's) post...if Martin meant having to take Jones or Pierre, that makes it less interesting.