Toronto Blue Jays: Russell Martin new super utility player

The Toronto Blue Jays are taking an unconventional approach to filling their various holes, as it appears that they are turning catcher Russell Martin into a super utility player.

The Toronto Blue Jays have been struggling to fill various holes on their roster. Shortstop has been a revolving door, especially with Aledmys Diaz on the disabled list. There really isn’t a fourth outfielder on the roster. Yangervis Solarte, who was expected to be a utility infielder, has been pressed into the starting lineup. The Blue Jays need a super utility player to be able to take over those various roles on the team.

Enter Russell Martin. Theoretically the starting catcher for Toronto, he has been supplanted by Luke Maile, due to Maile’s impressive performance with the bat in the early going. However, with $20 million per year due through 2019, the Blue Jays are not about to let Martin sit on the bench. As such, he appears to be their new super utility player, having appeared at short twice over the weekend, and now starting in left field.

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It is a unique role for Martin. Prior to this season, he had never appeared at short, and his one appearance in the outfield was for 5.2 innings in right in 2013. Most of his experience in the field has come at third, where he has logged 33 career games, including ten appearances last year. With the way he is being deployed, it would not be a surprise to see Martin get a look at the hot corner when Josh Donaldson needs a day off.

Based on his production, Martin has not exactly earned this role. Over his 143 plate appearances this year, Martin has an anemic .165/.294/.322 batting line, hitting four doubles and five homers. He is still powering the ball, but is not making enough contact, with 38 strikeouts in that same span.

In Martin’s case, the money talks. Maile has outperformed him with the bat, producing a .291/.378/.456 batting line, while belting five doubles and two homers. Meanwhile, Maile has thrown out 40% of would be base stealers, compared to Martin’s 20%. However, with that contract, Toronto needs to find a way to get Martin in the lineup, even if he has become their backup catcher due to his own lack of production.

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The Toronto Blue Jays are finding ways to get Russell Martin in the lineup, turning him into a super utility player. This is a matter of finding a way to get something out of that contract, as his production does not warrant that many appearances.