A source tells Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News that the Yankees have offered Russell Martin a one-year contract.
We know that the Red Sox and Blue Jays also have interest, while Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger reported Thursday that a “mystery team” offered a multi-year contract. If Martin signs a one-year deal with a club, he will remain under team control as an arbitration-eligible player next winter.
Feinsand wrote yesterday that the Red Sox appear to be Martin’s first choice, presumably because he feels he has a better chance to beat out Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek for playing time than he would with Jesus Montero and Francisco Cervelli in New York.
Martin, who turns 28 in February, batted .285/.373/.433 from 2006-2008, but has a modest .249/.350/.330 batting line over the past two seasons. He’s also working his way back from a season-ending hip fracture.