He won two batting titles, led the league in on-base percentage three times. Martinez was one of the best right-handed hitters of recent years–you might recall him personally dismantling Buck Showalter’s career in the 1995 ALDS. Thus, the DH position allowed Martinez to reduce his injury risk and made him a pure asset instead of a compromised defender. Martinez was not a good glove at third, where he started, and he might or might not have been a decent first baseman but he was fragile and the Mariners had other options. He’s a no-brainer Hall of Famer.Įdgar Martinez: Let’s get one thing out of the way: if designated hitter is a legal position, then there should be no penalty for playing there. 300, steal 40 bases at an excellent percentage, was willing to take a walk and hit almost 200 home runs. His main weakness was that he had trouble staying on the field, but his career totals are just fine in spite of that. An MVP award attests to the high regard in which he was held during his career, as do 12 All-Star game selections.
He was an excellent glove in his prime, and his Reds won a World Series, something that seems impossible now.
#Pinstriped wine free
With Curtis Granderson and Roy Halladay out there to be pursued in trade, there’s no reason for the Yankees to feel like they absolutely most sign a free agent.Ĭontinuing our review of the Hall of Fame ballot…īarry Larkin: One of the best offensive shortstops in history, with Jeter-like batting results in most seasons. Given that the Yankees actually do things with their draft picks these days, it is to be hoped that the penalty attached to signing these cats would act as a severe disincentive to action. If the Yankees were to bring in any of these fellows, they would punt away their first-round draft pick for next June. Meanwhile, a handful of players were offered arbitration, including some players that have been rumored to attract the roving eye of Brian Cashman to one degree or another–Chone Figgins, John Lackey, Mike Gonzalez, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. To paraphrase Yogi Berra, it ain’t over ’til the fat agent sings (about signing with another team). The Yankees can keep talking to as many of their free agents as they’re interested in retaining, even Xavier Nady. Now, on the positive side, this decision doesn’t mean that Damon and pals are definitely gone. The downside to this decision is that if Johnny Damon leaves the Yankees won’t pick up a free draft pick. They have elected not to get tied into an inflexible negotiating position with any of their veterans. As you have very likely seen by now, the Yankees have declined to offer arbitration to any of their free agents.
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