Bomber Bites With Jumping Joe–No Place For Victor Martinez on Yankees

The Yankees have suffered through two of the worst offensive seasons in their storied history over the last two years.  They desperately need offense before next season arrives.  On paper, Detroit Tiger free agent to be Victor Martinez seems like a good fit.  Martinez had a career year in 2014, batting .335 with 32 home runs and 103 RBI. He also led the league in OBP (.409) and OPS (.974). He showed he was completely recovered from the knee surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2012 season and had rediscovered his swing again after a lackluster 2013 campaign. 

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However, Martinez will be 36 next season. That is the number that should matter most to the Yankees when they determine whether or not to make a play for his services. The other number they need to be aware of is 0, as in the number for a DH, the only position Martinez can play at this point in his career. Martinez has effectively been a full time DH since 2010, playing the vast majority of his games there. In 2014, he appeared as the catcher twice and first baseman 35 times for the Tigers.  He was the DH 115 times.

Mandatory Credit: Chad R. MacDonald.

The Yankees already have enough old DHs on their roster and they are adding a new, high-priced DH to it in the form of Alex Rodriguez.  Carlos Beltran played the most games at DH for the Yankees in 2014 and would figure to play there a lot in 2015 if not for A-Rod and Mark Teixeira’s presence on the roster. If the Yankees young crop of catchers, including John Ryan Murphy, Austin Romine and Gary Sanchez continue to develop and make a play for playing time in 2015, the Yankees will need to make room at DH for Brian McCann as well.

There is also the question of whether Martinez will be able to replicate the results of his 2014 season again at his advanced age.  The Yankees saw sudden declines in both Beltran and Alfonso Soriano last season.  They do not need to make the same mistake with a limited aging veteran. The Yankees would be better off investing their money elsewhere.