WEEI: Speier: Checking in at the V-Mart: A look at Victor Martinez’ value

V-Mart is a free-crouching unit that will carry a wide assortment of general tools.

If Martinez is solid behind the plate in 2010 while maintaining his offensive production, then he would likely be in line for the Varitek/Rodriguez/Posada contract. But, if teams conclude – as some executives already have – that he should be evaluated purely in the context of the market for first basemen and designated hitters, then Martinez becomes a completely different animal.

He has the bat to justify being an everyday first baseman and DH. Even so, when removed from behind the plate, his offense translates from elite (as a catcher) to merely good, with an expectation that his corresponding contract would likewise change.

The other “top” catchers who will be on the open market following the coming season include A.J. Pierzynski, Bengie Molina, Ramon Hernandez, Jason Varitek . . .  a group of players who are beyond their primes and are reaching (or well beyond) the age when the production of catchers falls off a cliff. Against that group, Martinez is like a superhero whose smile glints blindingly in the sun.

Over the past 10 years, Martinez ranks fourth among catchers with an .837 career OPS (behind Mauer (.892), Posada (.878) and Mike Piazza (.872)). During the same decade-long stretch, however, he would rank 24th in the majors in OPS among first basemen/designated hitters, behind Nick Johnson (.849) and just ahead of Adam LaRoche (.834) – both of whom, it should be noted, will be free agents following the 2010 season.