MLB

Martin waiting on Yankees before testing free-agent market

BACKSTOP PLAN:Russell Martin, here tagging out the Orioles’ Manny Machado during last season’s ALDS. is waiting to see what kind of contract the Yankees will offer him before he decides whether to stay or test the market.

BACKSTOP PLAN:Russell Martin, here tagging out the Orioles’ Manny Machado during last season’s ALDS. is waiting to see what kind of contract the Yankees will offer him before he decides whether to stay or test the market. (N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg)

Just like Ichiro Suzuki, Russell Martin is willing to wait on the Yankees.

With several teams looking for catching, Martin having proven he can catch regularly and not being in position to command megabucks or a long-term deal, baseball’s decisions makers believe Martin, 30 in February, wants to hear what the Yankees will offer him to stay before he gets serious about leaving.

“They’ve been dragging their feet,’’ an industry source said of Martin’s camp in dealing with teams. “People believe he really wants to stay with the Yankees and the Yankees don’t have anybody in-house to replace him.’’

If Martin is waiting for the Yankees, he has company. Friday, Ichiro Suzuki’s agent, Tony Attanasio, said his client harbors hopes of returning and is willing to wait until the Yankees get their pitching finalized.

“They’re going after pitching first which is what the Yankees normally do,’’ Attanasio said. “There has been a lot of interest [from teams] but he enjoyed playing for the Yankees so much it’s hard for him to say no to the Yankees. His preference is to stay there instead of going someplace else, but we’ll wait and see.’’

The Yankees want Martin back, but until they get Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera signed, their focus remains in that area. Pettitte is expected to inform the Yankees of his plans this week. Rivera has told the club he wants to pitch in 2013.

Eventually, the Yankees will get to Martin. A year ago at this time they talked about a three-year extension in the $20 million range that didn’t get done.

Now, after making $7.5 million this past season after overcoming a brutal first half with an efficient second half — finishing with 21 homers and 53 RBIs — Martin is in position for a raise on several fronts despite a career-low .211 batting average that could have been worse. Like most Yankees, Martin didn’t hit in the postseason, when he went 5-for-31 (.161).

One, the Yankees don’t have an in-house candidate to replace him. Two, A.J. Pierzynski, 36 in December, is the best available free agent, and he is six years older than Martin.

Pierzynski is coming off a season in which he swatted a career-high 27 homers and drove in 77 runs.

Though the Yankees promise to get their 2014 payroll to $189 million and have been reluctant to talk multi-year deals with free agents, it almost is impossible to keep Martin and not sign him to more than a one-year deal.

The Yankees had money budgeted for extensions for Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson that likely won’t be extended this offseason, so the money is there.

Martin, who didn’t receive the $13.3 million qualifying offer, has been the Yankees’ regular catcher the past two years in which the organization and player benefited from the relationship.

Industry experts believe Martin can command three years at $8 million to $10 million per.

General manager Brian Cashman has been mum about talks with Matt Colleran, Martin’s agent, citing language in the basic agreement concerning clubs and agents from talking to the media about discussions regarding free agents.