Sawchik: Martin Unlikely To Return To Bucs
PITTSBURGH (KDKA 93-7 The Fan)- Major League Baseball free agency starts Nov. 4. Headlining the list of Pirates free agents is catcher Russell Martin.
Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review told Bob Pompeani that the length of the contract for Martin is the bigger question than the yearly salary.
"I think that's a big dilemma. It's not so much the short-term dollars, because the Pirates are going to make him that qualifying offer. It's those third, fourth, and maybe someone's even going to give him that fifth year in free agency, and that's why I think it's unlikely that he'll be back," Sawchik said.
Two other free agents are pitchers Francisco Liriano and Edinson Volquez.
"I think they should qualify Liriano," Sawchik said. "I think he would get a multi-year offer from someone, and I think he would not accept a qualifying offer. So I think it's a calculated risk that's worth taking because the Pirates will get draft pick compensation."
Sawchik added that Volquez is probably the most likely to re-sign.