OTTAWA-The Toronto Blue Jays announced today that they have signed Canadian free-agent catcher Russell Martin to a five-year contract bringing the 31 year-old who was born in nearby East York, ON back to his home and native land.
Martin, who suited up for Canada as a member of the Junior National Team from 1999 to 2001, and with the Senior Team at the 2003 Olympic Qualifier and 2009 World Baseball Classic, joins fellow Canadians and JNT grads Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) and Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, ON) on the Blue Jays’ roster.
The Blue Jays will be Martin’s fourth Major League club after the 31 year-old made his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006 where he spent five seasons, before playing two seasons each with both the Yankees (2011, 2012) and the Pirates (2013, 2014).
His nine-year career has seen his teams reach the post-season seven times including each the past four seasons. He has been named to three different MLB All-Star teams, most recently in 2011 with the other two coming in 2007 and 2008. In 2007 he won Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards.
Martin is coming off a season with the Pirates where he hit .290 with 11 home runs and drove in 67 runs, while throwing out 39% of would-be base stealers.
He is set to become the 20th Canadian-born player to suit up for the Blue Jays.
As part of his contract, Martin will make a donation to the Jays Care Foundation on an annual basis.
