The Dodgers acquired veteran catcher Russell Martin via trade with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. Martin, a 36-year-old former gold glove winning catcher who played the first five seasons of his MLB career with the Dodgers before stints with the Yankees, Pirates, and Blue Jays, will give the Dodgers depth at the catcher position along with Austin Barnes.
According to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN Los Angeles, the Dodgers sent minor leaguers Andrew Sopko and Ronny Brito to the Blue Jays in exchange for Martin. The Blue Jays are also expected to pay a big chunk of the remaining $20 million owed to Martin on his current deal.
After batting a respectable .272 in 667 games with Los Angeles between 2006 and 2010, Martin failed to bat higher than .256 with his other teams, including a disappointing .225 in 1759 at-bats with Toronto.
While he isn’t expected to give the Dodgers a huge bump offensively, Martin is still a talented defensive catcher and will help provide the team depth at the position until prospects in the Dodger farm system are ready to be called up.
