Major League Baseball

Report: Yanks agree to deal with Martin

Published Dec. 14, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The New York Yankees have agreed to a deal with free-agent catcher Russell Martin, MLB.com reported Tuesday.

The deal to snag Martin comes less than 24 hours after free-agent ace Cliff Lee shocked the baseball world by shunning a nearly $150 million offer from the Bronx Bombers, agreeing instead to a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Martin passed his physical Tuesday to make the deal official.

Martin, 27, could be the long-term replacement for aging catcher Jorge Posada, who has been the Yankees’ full-time backstop since 2000.

The reported deal with Martin comes after the Yankees said Posada, 39, would be moving to a designated hitter role starting next season.

Martin, who has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2006, missed the latter part of 2010 with a torn labrum in his right hip.

The two-time All-Star and 2007 Gold Glover is a lifetime .272 hitter. His best year came in 2007 when he hit .293, drove in 87 runs and belted 32 doubles to add Silver Slugger honors to his behind-the-plate achievements.