According to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, catcher and occasional third baseman Russell Martin “won’t play all that much down the stretch”. Nicholson-Smith also reports that John Gibbons has spoken with Martin about his lack of playing time and that Martin, a 2015 All-Star, is “on board”.
Frankly, it’s no surprise that Martin’s playing time is being diminished. In 90 games this season, he’s slashed an abysmal .194/.338/.325 in 289 at-bats, mashing 10 home runs and driving in just 25. His batting average is the lowest on the team, while his .663 OPS is not only the worst among everyday Blue Jays hitters, it is also the fifth worst among catchers with more than 300 plate appearances league-wide.