Blue Jays: Russell Martin as a legit dark-horse candidate to be skipper

With John Gibbons out the door soon and Russell Martin managing today, I believe there is a good case to make for him being the next manager for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Now I’m more than aware that this would be a long-shot, considering that he still has $20-million owed to Russell Martin next year. That’s why I’m saying he’s a dark horse, but bear with me as I make the case for the Blue Jays catcher to turn into the team’s next skipper.

He probably won’t be starting next year

With the emergence of Danny Jansen this year, it looks like Martin will be riding the bench and backing up, as well as mentoring the young pitch caller. He might not even be the second-string either with Reese McGuire also doing pretty well for himself. What does that leave for Martin? Moving around the infield? I don’t think he wants that for himself.

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His baseball I.Q. is insane

No one is ever doubting Martin’s ability to call pitches and frame them, as well as knowing what to do in certain situations. In most, if not all the games he plays, Martin is the smartest player on the field. He gets along with umpires, players and coaches. He knows better than most people what playoff baseball is like, and he knows the game inside and out. It would be hard to find a more baseball intelligent manager.

He’s a young, new face that players, and fans would respect

Martin has gained himself a significant amount of respect amongst the league from players and fans. Especially in Toronto, which is in the country the Canuck calls home. He’s a familiar face to fans, and who doesn’t love the idea of a Canadian running Canada’s team? For the players, they know what he’s like. Martin is already respected in the locker room, and it wouldn’t be a tough transition from the lovable John Gibbons. As well as he’s a young face that obviously fits in Toronto, which will be a young team to guide as well. Toronto needs a fresh, young new face coaching them.

https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1046205890897092608

Martin might be unwanted after next year

The likeable catcher his entering the final year of his five year, 82 million dollar deal he signed prior to the 2015 season. Martin will become a free agent after next season, and once that happens then there’s a pretty good chance that he will either be not signed, or will have to settle for a pretty small contract. Martin is smart enough to know when his career is coming to a close and should capitalize on the opportunity if it comes to him.

How would it work?

Well like I said, Martin would be owed $20-million next year, so the Jays could negotiate something that would still give him that money over x-amount of years. That way he will be guaranteed this money with more security over the next years.

Regardless of if he ends up catching next year or coaching, I fully think Martin will manage an MLB team one of these years. He’s worked hard at it, and is as deserving as anyone else in the league right now of coaching an MLB team. Sooner or later, Martin will be a big-league skipper, it’s just probably not going to happen next year.