Russell Martin is returning to the Dodgers, the team that drafted and groomed him, and for whom he made two All-Star teams. Though his play dropped off last season, he’s hoping a return to Los Angeles can bring back some “magic” for him, much like it did for Matt Kemp.
Martin was acquired by the Dodgers in a trade with the Blue Jays on Friday, one that will see the Jays pay most of the $20 million the catcher is owed. Martin talked about his desires to bring back the “magic” in comments shared by the OC Register’s Bill Plunkett on Friday.
Russell Martin on following Matt Kemp's All-Star return to LA last year — "There's something about putting on that #Dodgers uniform that can bring out the magic in you. I hope to get some of that magic this year."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) January 12, 2019
Kemp went from being a guy the Dodgers expected to release before last season to making his first All-Star team since 2012. Martin was an All-Star in 2015 for Toronto, but he batted a horrid .194 last season. He’s always been a solid on-base percentage player at catcher, but the Dodgers will need much more from him in the batting average department. Maybe the change of scenery and return to LA will help with that.
