Victor Martinez

by PieFan08 on Jun 6, 2009 3:35 PM CDT

It seems to me that the Indians are coming to the conclusion that this year is not the year for them. So as expected, they will obviously become sellers before the deadline. I am sure DeRosa will end up somewhere, or maybe one of their pitchers, but what about V-Mart. Does anyone think that he would be up for auction this summer? If so, I would really like the Cubs to try and make a move to get him. Soto is not the same, and Hill is starting to show why he is our backup.

Could any of you see a move like this happening between the Cubs and the indians? Just a thought, it would be great to have that big bat from our catcher in the lineup again.

I do not think this is anymore ridiculous of an idea as the Freddy Sanchez rumor.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Except the Freddy Sanchez rumor was apparently real.

What would you want/need Martinez for?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 6, 2009 3:38 PM CDT reply actions

the four games

until he gets hurt?

and we have 4 first basemen. ,

by tim815 on Jun 6, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Huh?

He was hurt last year. The four seasons prior to that he averaged 147 games played…which is pretty good for a catcher…

by CubsWin!Oregon on Jun 6, 2009 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions

this isn't me trying to act like an ahole

but do you have a link? cause i have been trying to find one

by lexmarklover on Jun 6, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

No, I don't.

Information from a source. No link. Sometimes these things don’t have links.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 6, 2009 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions

pompous and hypocritical...

is what you are, al.

“Information from a source. No link. Sometimes these things don’t have links.”

if you were questioning the merit of a trade rumor and sought a link, and your quote was given by another, that individual would be subject to your castigation.

practice what you preach, mr. yellon.

by evo5 on Jun 6, 2009 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions

It'd be nice if you'd identify yourself...

… instead of hiding behind a pseudonym, and creating a new user name when your old one didn’t suit your purposes.

I have sources that I protect. People here know this. Your comment was uncalled for. If someone else had an unattributed source that they had to protect, I think I’d understand that.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 6, 2009 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions

i'm not hiding at all.

nice job deflecting.

incidentally, my post history is so inconsequential i wouldn’t expect you to know who i am. speaking of not expecting things, i certainly didn’t expect to get one of your dreaded warnings for expressing my views on your practices.

i’ll get back in line now, all apologies.

by evo5 on Jun 6, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions

If you'd have been nice about it, maybe you wouldn't have been warned.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 6, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

man when did the russian admins appear?

seems like we cant do anything without getting a warning

Ramlee Zamfukusoridero

by hiphopgamer26 on Jun 6, 2009 11:54 PM CDT up reply actions

The warning was probably a little harsh, and I apologize for that.

I don’t appreciate being called pompous and hypocritical for trying to protect a source. See below.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 7, 2009 5:36 AM CDT up reply actions

There are a few of us here.....

…. like the owner of this site, who have rather good sources over the years. Al can detail how he got his if he feels like it. I got mine through years and years and years of going to Spring Training, Fantasy camps, dinners, bars, and traveling along with the team along the West Coast. I rarely if ever post what I occasionally get e-mailed, told, whatever, because I’d like to stay friends with these people. My sources range from incredibly well connected to fringe and in between. Others here can say similar things. So whenever someone like the site owner says he has a good source buthas to protect it, he does.

"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008

by BeerCub on Jun 6, 2009 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Other than...

because he’s the best hitting catcher in baseball not named Joe Mauer?

I’m not sure if it makes sense that the Cubs make a trade to get a good hitting catcher (I think the concept is over-rated…especially because a good hitting catcher is often the same thing as a somewhat productive position player).

But that said, I’m not sure why anyone would turn their nose up at Martinez offhandedly. He’s a damn good hitting catcher.

by CubsWin!Oregon on Jun 6, 2009 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions

As I reread that..

It sounds more sarcastic than I was meaning it to. Hope it didn’t come off that way…

by CubsWin!Oregon on Jun 6, 2009 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions

It's too early to give up on Soto.

The guy’s still just 26. Plus he’s gonna take a lot to get. He has a relatively inexpensize (7 million) club option for next year, meaning the Indians are gonna need to get quite a package of prospects to get him. That’s definitely not worth it when we have a guy already on the roster with the potential to be truly great.

But maybe we chase Martinez in the ‘10 offseason if Soto doesn’t turn it around?

by Poloplaya14 on Jun 6, 2009 4:05 PM CDT reply actions

what

do you propose to give up for him?

And it would probably crush whatever confidence Soto has left. Hendry would be, essentially, giving up on the 2008 ROY.

I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.

by drewishdrewid on Jun 6, 2009 4:06 PM CDT reply actions

yes and no

same was said when the Hawks signed Huet and tried to trade Khab time and time again. Seemed to work pretty well, sparking a fire under Khab.

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Jun 6, 2009 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Except they were going to give up on Khabby

They put him on waivers and signed Huet to a disastrous contract. They wanted out of Khabbys big contract.

Get Peavy already! I want my #44 jersey!

by Cub Style on Jun 6, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions

why

cuz Khab had not produced as expected

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Jun 6, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Yea that's exactly why.

Why else would they sign Huet to a 5 million dollar a year 3 year contract and put Khabibulin on waivers? I doubt they get him back this year considering they have to give Bolland and Versteeg new contracts, plus extend Kane and Towes, and if they have enough room sign Havlat back.

Get Peavy already! I want my #44 jersey!

by Cub Style on Jun 7, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions

i agree

and it sucks, since putting the heat on Khab seemed to work (same idea might work with Soto minuus the DFA part)

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Jun 7, 2009 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Well I think Soto is out of shape

Plus we’d have to give up a lot just to light a fire under him. Maybe if Lee was involved though.

Get Peavy already! I want my #44 jersey!

by Cub Style on Jun 7, 2009 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions

The confidence thing you hear a lot...

which I’m always a little bemused by. I agree that that probably plays a part, but I also kind of feel like we assume that these guys are porcelin dolls. I would hope they have thicker skin than we think…

by CubsWin!Oregon on Jun 6, 2009 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I can think of......

a dozen teams that want a top notch catcher. It will cost a ton to get a V-mart. We’re near broke and have no big time prospects but Vitters.

I sit at home after the Cubs lose and wanna pound sand but I know I live in a state without that kinda land. I know in my heart Sori isn't a guess hitting hack and that Dero will never be back. Pitching is King, some do say and hopefully Aaron Miles doesn't play in a Cub uniform another day. By October this I know, to the playoffs we are for sure to go. Go Cubbies!!

by cubsluver22 on Jun 6, 2009 4:06 PM CDT reply actions

Two problems

1. Who would the Cubs be able to send to the Indians,
2. I suspect that Martinez’s days as a full-time catcher are coming to an end. He has split his time this year between catcher and 1st base.

by rlpete on Jun 6, 2009 4:41 PM CDT reply actions

I was wondering about that as well (your point #2)

He’s had a pretty even split so far (28 GS as a catcher; 26 as a 1B). I assume it’s a durability issue since he’s coming off an injury year. But he didn’t have a prior history of injuries as far as I remember. So is this the Indian’s overly-babying his elbow? Or is it actually the case that he just can’t catch with the same frequency as earlier in his career?

I can’t say I’ve studied him too much, but maybe somone else knows the answer?

by CubsWin!Oregon on Jun 6, 2009 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't think it's an injury thing.

He could probably still catch full-time, but the Indians want to give playing time to Kelly Shoppach, who was one of the top prospects in baseball. If Shoppach wasn’t struggling this year, Martinez would probably be spending more time at 1B, but that doesn’t necessarily mean his catching days are over.

by Poloplaya14 on Jun 6, 2009 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Except Martinez is now 30

and he was never a good catcher in his prime. I think his full-time days are ending.

by rlpete on Jun 7, 2009 8:04 AM CDT up reply actions

You may be right.

But I don’t think we’re in a position to know for sure.

by Poloplaya14 on Jun 7, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Sori double!

And we’re off

by chitownhawkeye on Jun 6, 2009 6:11 PM CDT reply actions

Wow

Massive post fail. Guess I should not be reading fanposts when the game starts :-(

by chitownhawkeye on Jun 6, 2009 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions

haha.

It happens to the best of us :)

by CubsWin!Oregon on Jun 6, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions

If you were trying to acquire Martinez, you'd offer Soto, right?

Because you thought Martinez gave you a better chance to win now.

I wouldn’t make that deal because of Martinez’ injury history, but I think the Indians would.

The Cubs have 3-4 good catching prospects coming up behind Soto: Robinson, Clevenger, Castillo, and Chirinos.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Jun 6, 2009 7:46 PM CDT reply actions

Oh, and I agree with the original poster

This is along the same line as a deal for Freddy Sanchez. It would even be similar money, and both players are the same age and have an option for next year. It may not have come up with the Cubs brass yet, but if the Indians put Martinez on the market, they’d have to take a look.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Jun 6, 2009 7:48 PM CDT reply actions

Except for two things

It’s gonna take a lot more in terms of prospects to get Martinez than to get Sanchez. Also, in getting Sanchez, we’re talking about upgrading a position where we don’t have a long-term solution in place. With Martinex, we already have Soto, who has as the potential to be great.

by Poloplaya14 on Jun 6, 2009 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions

This is a horrible idea.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jun 7, 2009 12:38 AM CDT reply actions

No much worse than

choosing to sign Bradley over Dunn or Ibanez…

100 years would have been nice, but 101 years still has a nice ring to it.

by airweino on Jun 7, 2009 12:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, well, that's not entirely a fair comparison.

Raul is 37 years old. I wouldn’t have signed him. Dunn, yeah, he’s a lumberjack. If we expected 100 games outta GameBoard (I think I predicted 99), that’s still TBD, but not looking good at this point. Lotta season left.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jun 7, 2009 1:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Well let's see...

We need a left handed power bat. Who do you think of besides Ryan Howard? Adam Dunn. Dunn is a very good player who hits for large amounts of power and draws walks. Hell he’d be leading us in RBIs for sure.

Get Peavy already! I want my #44 jersey!

by Cub Style on Jun 7, 2009 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions

I wasn't disagreeing about Dunn. He was #1 on my list this off-season.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jun 7, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Mine, too.

He’s also played a number of games in RF this year. He’s been… not horrible.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 7, 2009 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Dunn has a OPS+ of 146,

has played 55 games, and eats raw meat. And people wonder why I’m not too thrilled with Milton Bradley. Think Dunn wants to be playing for the horrible, HORRIBLE Nationals? This guy would LOVE to be in Wrigley.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jun 7, 2009 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Victor Martinez is the heart and soul of the Cleveland Indians

Suffice to say he isn’t going anywhere unless some team completely overwhelms Mark Shapiro. Also, Martinez is a liability at catcher and should really be at 1st base.

You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little messed up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?

by BLou on Jun 7, 2009 5:21 AM CDT reply actions