The 35-year old backstop is in the final year of a 5-year contract that will see Russell Martin earn $20 million in 2019. Passan also reported that the Blue Jays would be willing to take on some of the money owing in a prospective deal.
Martin’s offensive decline coupled with the emergence of rookies Danny Jansen and Reese McGuire make the aging catcher dispensible. The Canadian is still a respected presence in the clubhouse and a positive influence on the young pitching staff however his .194/.338/.325 line from 2018 is a tough pill to swallow.