Brett Lawrie expects Russell Martin to be a big addition for the Toronto Blue Jays – a captain on the field and a competitor who builds team morale off of it.
“It’s most definitely a big deal. It’s a big piece to this puzzle going forward for sure,” Lawrie told Tim and Sid on Sportsnet 590 The FAN Tuesday.
“It’s just a great omen for the team so we’re definitely moving forward with positivity,” he added.
The decision to sign Martin to a five-year, $82 million contract caught Lawrie by surprise. He was working out at the time when the news came across the TV.
“I was like ‘damn, here we go,’” Lawrie recalled. “It’s definitely a positive and he’s going to be one of our big-time leaders back there. He’s going to control our pitchers and control the running game, so I’m excited about that.”
Lawrie, one of three Canadians on the Blue Jays along with Martin and Dalton Pompey, describes his newest teammate as an athletic player whose competitiveness fuels those around him. That Martin has played on seven playoff teams in nine MLB seasons is particularly encouraging for Lawrie.
“He knows what it takes in order to be the best – in order to get to where you need to be to be a championship team,” Lawrie said. “He’s a leader out there from behind the dish and I think that’s going to carry right in to the clubhouse.”
Any questions Lawrie once had about Martin have disappeared. Lawrie called Martin’s decision not to play in the 2013 World Baseball Classic ‘weak,’ but he explained Tuesday that he understands the choice and was simply frustrated at the time.
“That wasn’t anything against him. That was just trying to field the best Canadian baseball team that we could possibly field,” Lawrie said. “We needed him, that’s the thing. I think it was more needing him on our team than anything. It was just wanting to have him on our team so bad and I think it was just more frustrating than anything. It’s nothing against Russ at all.”
“You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to stay healthy and I’m just glad he’s on our side now.”
After missing much of the 2014 season due to a broken finger and an oblique injury, Lawrie has been focusing on keeping a positive outlook for the 2015. If the season were to begin tomorrow, Lawrie would play third base for the Blue Jays, and he’d like to stay at the hot corner if possible.
“I enjoy that a lot better than second base and it’s good to know where you’ll be every day,” Lawrie said.
In the meantime, he approves wholeheartedly of the Blue Jays’ first major move of the winter.