Four-time All-Star catcher Russell Martin officially announced his retirement on his Instagram page today. Martin thanked many people who helped support him throughout his career, and is now stepping away from the game after 14 MLB seasons’ worth of “timeless memories that I will cherish forever.”
A 17th-round pick for the Dodgers in the 2002 draft, Martin spent his first five Major League seasons and his final season (2019) in Dodger blue. In between his two stints in Los Angeles, Martin played two seasons apiece with the Yankees and Pirates, and four seasons playing the Blue Jays in his home country of Canada.
It didn’t take Martin long to make an impression, as he was a ninth-place finisher in NL Rookie of The Year voting in his 2006 debut season, and he then crushed the “sophomore slump” by winning a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger Award in 2007. Martin also earned the first of his four All-Star nods that year, later returning to the Midsummer Classic in 2008, as a Yankee in 2011, and as a Blue Jay in 2015.
One of the sport’s better defenders and pitch-framers during his career, Martin would likely have captured more than one Gold Glove had he not spent so many of his prime years in the same league as Yadier Molina. Bringing some extra athleticism to the catcher position, Martin also saw some action elsewhere around the diamond during his career, appearing in 57 games at third base and making a handful of appearances at second base, shortstop, and both corner outfield slots.
Martin complemented his defense with some solid and occasionally excellent hitting, including his Silver Slugger year and a 2014 season with Pittsburgh that saw him hit .290/.402/.430 over 460 PA. That latter season was particularly timely for Martin since it came just before a trip into free agency, and the result was a five-year, $82MM deal that at the time was the second-biggest contract in Blue Jays history. It was the long-term payday that Martin had been seeking after a few underwhelming years, including an injury-marred 2010 season that led the Dodgers to non-tender him that fall.
Winning was a common element for Martin no matter where he went, as he appeared in the postseason in 10 of his 14 seasons. While none of Martin’s teams reached the World Series, he had his share of memorable playoff moments — perhaps most notably a (crowd-assisted) home run off Johnny Cueto as part of a two-homer game for Martin in the Pirates’ Wild Card game victory over the Reds in 2013.
As his career wound down, Martin did plan to play in 2020 and received a few offers from teams, but the pandemic seemed to scuttle any chances of the catcher returning for one final season. He’ll now hang up his cleats after hitting .248/.349/.397 (104 wRC+) with 191 home runs and 1416 hits over 1693 games and 6648 PA in the Show. Martin retires as an icon in Canadian baseball, as only Ferguson Jenkins, Larry Walker, and Joey Votto recorded more career bWAR amongst players born north of the border.
We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Martin on a terrific career, and we also congratulate his family on the impending arrival of a third child (as Martin announced in his Instagram post).
It’s been 3 years thought that happened a long time ago
Fine career, excellent pitch framer, but you’re right. I thought he retired years ago. Some players just wait to make sure no one else will call, or they themselves aren’t sure if they’re ready to retire.
Still waiting for Bernie Williams to announce he’s officially retired. Just kidding. I’m sure he eventually announced it. Pretty sure.
usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/04/24/bernie-wi… lol you’re welcome
Agreed was a fun catcher to watch I just didn’t know he was waiting around haha
Same KR227..thought he retired in ‘19. Either way though, wish him all the best..he was a hard nosed guy, who had a great career.
Such is life as a baseball fan on the West Coast. Most of the rest of the country has no idea what’s going on here. Dodger fans were happy to see him back in LA for what turned out to be his real last season.
What are you joking? Don’t know what’s going on in the West Coast? It’s like Dodger overload.
Yup. Got the one year swan song with the Dodgers and everything. Thanks for that magical ‘07 fantasy season, bro. Enjoy the retirement. Great career
Love you Russel!!
Russell the muscle!
It should be Martin Russell not Russell Martin. Anyone remember when him, granderson and cano hit 3 grand slams in one game?
I loved Russ in Pittsburgh. He was awesome and I’ll never forget that home run he hit off Cueto after he dropped the ball in the Wild Card game. Hope he enjoys retirement!
Absolutely one of my favorite Pirates from that era. He was one of the driving forces behind those teams actually believing on themselves instead of just settling for losing like they usually did.
Cue-to, Cue-to, Cue-to. I randomly got a day shift at the restaurant/bar I was working at that day and grabbed two six packs and headed to the parking lot for that game immediately. It was a party outside the stadium, can only imagine what it was like inside. Never seen anything like it for a baseball game in Pittsburgh before or since.
The other thing about that wild card game is that Cueto absolutely dominated the Pirates for his whole career to that point but when push came to shove in the playoffs Pgh rattled him. Never was the ace he seemed to be since that game or maybe he seemed to be an ace by beating up on really bad Pirates teams for a handful of years.
One of my favorite Dodgers. He’s a future major league manager if the opportunity arises.
Russ left all he had to give on the field, that is all you can ever ask from a ballplayer.
yeah except when he didn’t like the last couple of years w the Dodgers.
As good as Yadi, but will have to pay to see Molina’s induction.
It’s odd. Molina has been spoken of as a first ballot hall of famer since his early 30s. Announcers gush over him every game.
I’ve barely heard discussions about the possibility that Martin gets in.
Longevity and postseason success have a lot to do with a “future HOFer” designation. Yadi has played 5 more years and has 2 more rings.
Personally I don’t think either of them or Buster Posey deserve to be in the Hall. But I know at least 2 of them will get in while superior players are excluded just because of the position they played.
Posey, Freehan, Munson, and Mauer deserve to get in before Yadi.
Nailed it!
And Wockenfuss!!
I think he’ll get some consideration. The difference is Molina has two rings and played for only one team. Martin has led his teams to the playoffs plenty but never crossed that finish line.
Yadi also has 30 pts higher career avg 200+ more RBIs and 700+ more hits. Yadi just had a better overall career.
Keep in mind Molina has ~1700 more PAs than Martin. Martin’s walk rate was also twice that of Molina and usually batted lower in the lineup (typically 6-8th) while Molina has has 2/3 of his PAs in the 5-6 spots, giving him less RBI opportunities. I’m certain if you looked at RBI as a rate stat in terms of opportunities, Martin would come out on top, as he does in almost every metric when comparing his and Molina’s stats on a rate basis.
It’s easy to say you’ve had a better career when you’ve been carried to two World Series by a menagerie of much better players. The craziest thing about Molina is that his defense–his carrying tool that was gushed over for the last 15 years–was never that great. it’s like someone just said “yeah that Molina guy’s a good defender” and everyone just went along with it despite him being bang-on average.
@georgebell2 – While Martin had a great 14 season career, he is not a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate. He had a career bWar of 39 and while he was an above average defender behind the plate, his overall numbers on both sides of the ball and his career achievements just aren’t enough to get him into the HOF. He certainly played the game hard and made a lot of money for doing so. He and his family should be very proud of what he accomplished in MLB. The Hall of Very Good is where he belongs and there’s no shame in that whatsoever.
He should never be talked about as HoF. He didn’t play enough and didn’t do anything memorable.
If the voters go by Baseball Reference’s JAWS, neither of them gets in. But I think you’re right; Molina will get in with the nine Gold Gloves and nine All-Star appearances.
CORRECTION: “Retirement Announces Russell Martin”
Exactly. You haven’t played any ball in 2.5 years, you were retired.
Since he hasn’t played since 2019 i pretty much figured it was a given that Martin was retired. Guess he finally got around to filing the paperwork
As a Dodger fan. Congratulations on a heck of a career, it’s funny when you came up with Matt,Andre,James Chad and Clayton I thought you would be here the longest. The back to back to back to back plus one is still the best game I’ve ever seen. Thanks for the memories
I was in the house for that legendary game, and stayed to the end. My other favorite Martin moment was when he and Manny Ramirez climbed into the pavilion stands to shake the hands of the fans after the Dodgers won an NLDS (I think it was 2008 or ’09, maybe someone else remembers exactly). I’m sure they were told afterwards to never do that ever again but the fans loved it like crazy. Also in an AS game when he grounded out with a runner on, and a word came out of his mouth so loud you could hear it clearly on TV. Another thing I’m sure he was told never to do again. He was always the total gamer. Good for him to end his career where it started.
I’ve never played MLB I am now announcing my retirement as well
You should be announcing your free agency..
Hall of Famer, (Canadian baseball)
Best wishes in retirement and forever grateful for that 3-1 fastball he called in the 8th inning on 10/13/2008.
I couldn’t believe that the Pirates in 2012 dropped $10 M a year for two years on this guy as his best days seemed to be behind him.
They supposedly had become serious about contending by doing so.
He turned out to be quite a good investment.
They offered him the same annual amount as the Jays in 2014 but for four years instead of five.
I think that he wanted to go home,and the extra year did it for him.Of course,the Jays got 0 for that last $15M year.
He was a fine ball player,and a key part of the only really good three years that the Pirates have had since the 1990-1992 squad.
I wish him good luck in his retirement.
Good, he hated the Red Sox. Spoke out about them for little reason. At least have a reason
You need a reason to hate the Red Sox?
I kid! I kid!
I’m sure he had a reason but no there’s no reason to make private matters public. Sign of a true gentleman.
Umm… can’t remember the source but he made it public. Remember reading it at the time he was with the Yankees
Boston jumped the likable shark in 2004
Best of luck Thelonious!
I wish Hicks had retired before today’s game.
And I wish Boone, who’s been doing great, hadn’t reverted to Magic 8-Ball managing and sent the worst player on the team to pinch hit for Trevino with two outs and a man on, down by one run in the bottom of the 8th.
How dumb was that? These are Jose’s splits in 10 high-leverage AB this year:
.500/.583/.800/1.383
These are Hicks’ splits in 24 high-leverage AB this year:
.042 /.258/.042/.300
This is Trevino in 9 Late & Close AB:
.444/.546/.556/1.101
And this is Hicks in 22 Late & Close AB:
.136/.321/.136/.458
Oh, well. Still in first place, you can’t win ’em all, etc., etc.
It’s not Boone’s magic 8-ball thats the problem, it’s the baseball gods coming for their tribute. Yankees were flying high until the injury bug started chomping down hard
Great job for the Dodgers, Russell. Thank you!
A friend of mine told me a story of when he was umpiring a game about thirty years ago. He said he was hitting line drives and throwing out runners at second base. The kid came up to bat and my friend asked him what his name was. He said it was Russell Martin. My friend told him he would be a major league player. The kid thanked him. Fast forward about fifteen years and my friend was watching the Dodgers play. He heard Vin introduce a guy making his debut and where he was from. He thought to himself that he had been right.
Congratulations, now get a job covering the jays on Sportsnet
The fact there’s more than 1 fan base with good memories (plus an entire country!) speaks to his career and the player. One of my favorites growing up.
Now he was a player!!!!
Wish him the best. Rare these days to have a catcher that produces offensively and defensively.
Except in his last 4 years where he didn’t do either, lol
Wait, didn’t he retire like 5 years ago??
He wasn’t that good, very over rated. The only HoF about his career is how he stole $82M from the Jays for 1 good year and 1 meh year.
he was likely distracted. that happens to him from time to time
Embarrassing post. Catchers do a lot more than just hit, and very few end 14yr careers with a positive wrc+ like Martin. The fact that his teams made the postseason 10 out 14 times speaks volumes about his ability to manage a staff. How’s your baseball career coming along?
Some of the same people heaping accolades are the same who were all over him for purported steroid usage.