From Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times comes word that the Yankees have included $1.4 million in performance-based incentives in their new one-year, $4 million contract with catcher Russell Martin.
Martin has already passed his physical with the Yanks and the deal is expected to be finalized by the end of this week.
The 27-year-old will start behind the plate on Opening Day in New York and will look to turn his career around in the hitter-friendly ballparks of the American League East. The Yankees will probably send catching prospect Jesus Montero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at the start of the year. Jorge Posada will act as the club’s primary DH and backup catcher.
The Dodgers offered Martin a one-year contract with a base salary of $4.2 million before non-tendering him earlier this month. That deal contained up to $1.5 million worth of incentives, but he would’ve had to start 140 games to maximize all of it. He only has to start 120 games in pinstripes to maximize his potential $5.4 million salary.
