Nobody happier for Cervelli, Bucs than Martin
CINCINNATI — Francisco Cervelli has done a very capable job of replacing Russell Martin as the Pirates’ starting catcher this season.
No one is happier about that than Martin, now with the Toronto Blue Jays after leaving as a free agent after last season.
“I’m happy for Francisco because he’s a good guy who deserves a chance to be a starter,” said Martin, a member of the American League squad for Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park.
“I’m also happy for the Pirates. I actually felt a bit of pressure when I decided to leave. I wanted to make sure they would find a catcher who would do a good job for them. He has always been a good catch-and-throw guy and he’s showing he can do more than that.”
In addition to playing solid defense, Cervelli is hitting .294 with four homers in 68 games after being acquired from the New York Yankees in a trade last November. He has helped the Pirates build the second-best record in the National League at 53-35.
Cervelli backed up Martin for two seasons with the Yankees in 2011-12.
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On the surface, it appeared that infielder Brock Holt was a throw-in by the Pirates when they sent him and closer Joel Hanrahan to the Boston Red Sox in a trade on Dec. 26, 2012 for a package of four players that included reliever Mark Melancon, who took part in his second All-Star Game.
Not the case, says Pirates general manager Neal Huntington.
“They specifically asked for Brock and they weren’t going to make the deal without him,” Huntington said.
Holt played in 24 games for the Pirates late in the 2012 season and batted .292. Yet he was not considered a big part of their future because Neil Walker was ahead of him at second base.
However, Holt has turned into one of the best utility players in the major leagues and was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time this year.
“I take a lot of pride in being able to move around and help out where I can and when I can,” Holt said. “I enjoy doing that. It’s a lot of fun for me. It’s just something that happened. Everything kind of happens for a reason.”
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The Pirates return to action Friday night when play the Brewers at Milwaukee in the opener of a three-game series. The next home game at PNC Park is July 23 against the Washington Nationals.