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Way back on December 14th, the Yankees signed former LA Dodgers' catcher and once promising face-of-the-franchise player Russell Martin to a 1-year, $4 million contract. A few weeks before, when Martin was non-tendered a contract by the Dodgers (allowing him to become a free agent), the Yankees almost acquired Martin in a straight-up, one-for-one deal that would have sent Francisco Cervelli to LA. However, talks broke down after medical records were reviewed and the Yankees backed off, leading many to believe Martin in pinstripes wasn't going to happen. Nonetheless, when he was officially released, the Yanks pounced on the opportunity. 
Now, the word from the Yankees after the postseason was that franchise catcher Jorge Posada, who, with Cervelli, ranked last in % of thrown out would-be base stealers and defense, would shift to the designated hitter spot for the 2011 season and that top catching prospect, the hitting prodigy, 21-year old Jesus Montero, would battle with Cervelli and prospect Austin Romine for the starting job at catcher. Despite Montero's reported defensive struggles, all signs are that his bat is ready. Often drawing a Miguel Cabrera-esque comparison with the bat, the young venezuelan catcher has been the top demand by any team who wants to make a trade with the Yankees, who are reluctant to deal him. Yankee fans were very excited when they found out Montero had a chance to be the starter in 2011, coming off a .289/21 homer season in triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Montero was the favorite for the job, seeing as his competition (Cervelli, Romine) can't hit water if it fell out of a bucket. It would truly be a changing of the guard. However, there was also skepticism. Why would the Yankees throw a 21-year old kid, who only has one year of triple-A experience under his belt, into the AL East, especially when he isn't a terrific defender? Many argued that while Montero had a chance to make the roster, he should get some more seasoning in triple-A, seeing as his first half in Scranton wasn't great as he batted around .250 until going on a scorching tear the second half of the year. Perhaps a month or two in the minors would do Montero good. If he tore it up, he'd get a call up and be the full-time catcher.
With fans fantasizing at the idea of the young slugger in the Bronx, all dreams stopped when the Yankees signed the 27-year old Martin. GM Brian Cashman declared that Martin "will be our starting catcher," putting any dreams of Montero as the starer to rest. Yankee fans were on the fence about the move, questioning why the Yankees had signed Martin, who was coming off two down years at the plate (.248, 5 HR, 26 RBI, .679 OPS in 2010) , not to mention a fractured hip which limited him to just 97 games last season. Why would the Yankees sign a player, especially a catcher, a position where one has to crouch, with a recently fractured hip? It was a puzzling move to say the least.
However, the move also had upside to it. Analysts raved that it was a very good signing for the Yankees, as it gave them further depth at the catching position, arguably the strongest position in the organization, as well as that it would give Montero more time to develop in the minors until he is ready. As well, it's certain that Martin is primed for a rebound and is more of a sure-thing than Montero is because he's proved it at the big league level. He's just three years removed from an All-Star .293, 19 HR, 87 RBI season. Perhaps Martin just needed a change of scenery to move on. While New York is a tough place to play, Martin is the man for the job. A clubhouse guy who was once deemed the leader of the Dodgers, Martin is a good fit for the Yankees not just on the field but in the locker room. He certainly has a lot to prove this season, because he is expendable if he happens to flop, especially with Montero waiting in the wings. If Martin meets expectations and returns to the form he was with the Dodgers, it could also work very well in the long-term for the Yankees. He's young enough to be the catcher for a long time for the Yankees, and is in the middle of his prime years. If he were to return to All-Star form, the Yankees could in turn keep the sure-thing in Martin and trade Montero (a prospect is just that, a prospect) for premier pitching, a void they've been trying to fill this offseason. While the Yankees have stated that they "will not trade Montero this offseason," it doesn't mean they won't trade him. They offered him in deals for Cliff Lee last summer and Roy Halladay last winter, so he certainly isn't "un-touchable," but also is to some extent.
So what does the Russell Martin signing mean for Jesus Montero? It means that he has more time to develop into the player he's projected to be, while being able to work to improve his game defensively. Once he figures out defense enough to the extent to be a good catcher, he'll get the call to the show. The bat's ready. But what else could it mean? It could mean that he could be playing for another team some point this season if he is traded for prime pitching. The Jesus Montero Era hasn't even started, and we might not even see it.
In my opinion, I think Martin will be a great steal for the Yankees. I do think that he will rebound this season and be serviceable, but, when the time comes and Montero is ready, he'll become expendable, much like what the reigning world champion San Francisco Giants did last season with catcher Bengie Molina and 2010 Rookie Of The Year, catcher Buster Posey. In May, after Posey was tearing up triple-A, they called him up and traded Molina to Texas, allowing Posey to get the full-time starting job. I think the Yankees could do something similar this season.
In my opinion, I think Martin will be a great steal for the Yankees. I do think that he will rebound this season and be serviceable, but, when the time comes and Montero is ready, he'll become expendable, much like what the reigning world champion San Francisco Giants did last season with catcher Bengie Molina and 2010 Rookie Of The Year, catcher Buster Posey. In May, after Posey was tearing up triple-A, they called him up and traded Molina to Texas, allowing Posey to get the full-time starting job. I think the Yankees could do something similar this season.But it's like John Sterling always says, "you can't predict baseball."
