There's no question the Pittsburgh Pirates need a catcher next season. The rumor is the Bucs are prepared to offer Yankees catcher Russell Martin a three-year contract worth $25 million. That sounds about right for the Neal Huntington regime. They overpay for washed up veterans. It's like clockwork. I'm sure Erik Bedard, Clint Barmes, Nate McLouth and Rod Barajas are still fresh in your memories. Maybe Huntington has forgotten. He certainly hasn't learned from past mistakes. If reports have any validity to them, Huntington is pursuing a player in decline. Martin hit .211 last season, which follows a trend in falling batting average since 2007 (.293, .280, .250, .248, .237 and .211). He played for the Dodgers before his move to New York, where his power numbers improved (7 and 5 homers with the Dodgers before 18 and 21 for the Yankees). Maybe the rumors aren't true. Maybe the Yankees will decided to up the ante. Maybe someone like the Seattle ...
My take on what's happening on the Pittsburgh sports scene and beyond.