After another inconsistent season and poor showing in the postseason, Yasmani Grandal remaining with the Los Angeles Dodgers beyond 2018 was considered unlikely. That looked to be all the more a reality after he rejected the one-year, $17.9 million qualifying offer.
With Grandal opting for free agency, the Dodgers were linked to a multitude of catchers, most prominently Yan Gomes and J.T. Realmuto. The Cleveland Indians traded Gomes to the Washington Nationals, and the Miami Marlins’ asking price for Realmuto has remained exorbitant.
That led to reports of the Dodgers being open to re-signing Grandal on a short-team contract. But that possibility was removed when he agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers’ quest to shore up the catcher position has apparently led them to a familiar face as they are poised to complete a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays for Russell Martin, according to Arash Madani:
BREAKING: Per MLB sources, the Blue Jays are trading Russell Martin to the LA Dodgers.
More to come…
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) January 11, 2019
The Blue Jays are expected to pay a portion of Martin’s salary this season, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet Canada:
#BlueJays trading Russell Martin to the Dodgers per @ArashMadani
Return not yet known, but based on catching market would guess #BlueJays absorb $16-18 million of his $20 million salary in 2019
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 11, 2019
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Blue Jays are receiving Minor League players in exchange for Martin:
#Dodgers getting cash to cover significant portion of Martin’s $20M salary in 2019 and parting with two minor leaguers. https://t.co/meG6Ay6ORF
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 11, 2019
Injuries again limited Martin, as he played in just 90 games last season. He appeared in a combined 181 games over the past two seasons. He’s entering the final year of a five-year, $82 million contract signed with the Blue Jays.
Martin batted .272/.365 .396 in 667 games over five seasons with the Dodgers from 2006-2010. He was selected by the Dodgers in the 17th round of the 2002 Draft.
