Adrian Gonzalez on Monday, Carl Crawford late Wednesday night and now Russell Martin on Thursday? The Boston Red Sox are apparently not done with what is already one of their biggest offseasons in franchise history -- according to ESPN's Gordon Edes, they have put in an offer for Russell Martin, a 27-year old free agent catcher who has spent his five-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
One thing is for certain at this point, and that is Martin will wind up in the American League East: the Red Sox are competing against the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays for his services.
On Wednesday, Boston was said to be making a "strong push" for Martin, apparently not comfortable with the idea of Jason Varitek and Jarrod Saltalamacchia behind the plate for 2011. Martin is a right-handed hitter.
Martin, who will turn 28 years old in February, hit .248/.347/.332 in just 97 games with the Dodgers in 2010; he tore the labrum in his hip in August, forcing him to miss the rest of the season. Because of those injury concerns, the Dodgers opted not to tender him (while discussing a trade with the New York Yankees), allowing him to become a free agent. For what it's worth, the Sox had already obtained Martin's medical reports.