M's move to left, land Martin
It's Aug. 1. Do you know who your left fielder is?
After weeks of heightened expectations, stalled talks and balking partners, the Mariners made a middle-level trade yesterday that addresses their need for another left-handed hitter. The Mariners sent utilityman John Mabry and minor-league pitcher Tom Davey to San Diego for left fielder Al Martin, a career .282 hitter who is particularly effective against right-handed pitchers.
Since spring training, when Martin was with Pittsburgh, the Mariners had sought the speedy and powerful 6-foot-2, 215-pounder. But a deal never materialized, and the Pirates shipped Martin, 32, to San Diego on Feb. 23 for outfielder John Vander Wal and two minor-league pitchers. The Mariners will be the outfielder's third team in five months.
"We think we got a quality left-hand bat," Mariner General Manager Pat Gillick said before last night's game against Boston. "We want to try to rest our outfielders as much as possible.
"When we get into August and September they're going to have to be rested from time to time. Al will be in there when (Manager) Lou (Piniella) deems necessary."
The Mariners, however, already have an every-day left fielder in 41-year-old Rickey Henderson, who doesn't respond well to platooning or demotions. Henderson, a proud man, has had a history of funks when his playing time is restricted, as was the case earlier this season with the New York Mets. They finally released him, and the Mariners signed Henderson as a free agent on May 17.
Henderson, who didn't know about the trade until he arrived at the clubhouse yesterday, said playing time "is not in my hands."
He added that the team's need had been better hitting from the left side, "and he's a good little player who's capable of helping us."
But less than a week ago, Henderson said, "I think a lot of times in the past, I get into confrontations because I want to be out there playing everyday. I'm the type of player who doesn't like sitting on the bench."
It's a situation that Piniella said he doesn't have an answer for now, but that he plans to meet with Martin and the other outfielders today to set a plan for the rest of the season. Piniella would prefer to use Martin occasionally in left and right field, although he wants to be assured the club's new addition can play right field. Martin can also be used as a pinch-hitter and pinch-runner.
Gillick said Martin "is as fast or faster than Mike Cameron," which greatly upgrades the lineup. Piniella said there may be games in which he uses both Henderson and Martin in the lineup - at the top - then Cameron and Mark McLemore at the bottom.
Martin hit .306 with 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 93 games for the Padres and had a .348 average against right-handed pitchers. He has 158 career steals, with at least 20 in each of the past five seasons.
Mabry, who wasn't going to get enhanced playing time in Seattle, appeared in 48 games for the Mariners, hitting .243.
Davey, once considered Seattle's closer of the future, was 8-6 with a 4.61 ERA in 28 games for Class AAA Tacoma. He came to Seattle from Toronto last year in the David Segui deal.
"The bottom line is we didn't diminish our pitching depth at all," Piniella said.
Martin comes to Seattle with some personal baggage. This spring he was being investigated on charges of bigamy, having married a second wife, Shawn Haggerty-Martin, in Las Vegas in 1998, without benefit of a divorce from his first wife, Cathy. The charges brought by Nevada authorities were eventually dropped.
There was also a well-publicized incident this spring in Phoenix in which both Martin and his wife were arrested after a domestic dispute. Last Thursday, Martin entered an agreement to plead either guilty or no contest to charges of misdemeanor domestic violence and threatening and intimidating.
Gillick said yesterday, "we've checked with a number of people as to what type of person he is. I think he'll be a good fit for this ballclub. There are some issues that need to be resolved regarding the incident this spring."
Gillick said Martin, who's contract runs through next season with a $5 million price tag per year, is not a rental player. But Henderson also has a club option that would pay him $3 million next season when he's expected to reach 3,000 hits and become the all-time leader in runs scored. This acquisition could mean the club would not exercise that option on Henderson for 2001.
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Al Martin bio
Bats: Left. Throws: Left.
Height: 6 feet 2. Weight: 214 pounds.
Age: 32.
Hometown: West Covina, Calif. Residence: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Major-league service: Nine years (eight with Pittsburgh, one with San Diego).
Career highlights: Was an All-Star selection in 1994. . . . In 1999, became the fifth 20-20 player in Pirate history with 20 steals and 24 homers. . . . Has recorded 20 or more steals in each of the past five seasons, the fifth-longest streak among active players. . . . Owns a career batting average of .282 with 118 homers and 408 runs batted in.
Personal: Has been the subject of a domestic violence and bigamy investigation in Phoenix and Las Vegas. He was arrested March 20 in the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale for investigation of assault in an incident involving a woman, Shawn Haggerty-Martin, who claims she married him in a 1998 Las Vegas ceremony when he already was married. Martin has denied the accusations of violence and bigamy. . . . Attended USC on a football scholarship and played two seasons at strong safety. . . . Was drafted by Atlanta in the eighth round of the 1985 June draft and signed with Pittsburgh on Nov. 11, 1991. . . . His uncle, Rod Martin, played 12 years with the Oakland/L.A. Raiders.
Career statistics
Year, Team AB R H HR RBI AVG
1992, Pit 12 1 2 0 2 .167
1993, Pit 480 85 135 18 64 .281
1994, Pit 276 48 79 9 33 .286
1995, Pit 439 70 124 13 41 .282
1996, Pit 630 101 189 18 72 .300
1997, Pit 423 64 123 13 59 .291
1998, Pit 440 57 105 12 47 .239
1999, Pit 541 97 150 24 63 .277
2000, S.D. 346 62 106 11 27 .306
Totals 3587 585 1013 118 408 .282
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