Victor Martinez, Tigers Reportedly Agree to 4-Year, $50 Million Deal

by FanHouse Staff

Filed under: Red Sox, Tigers, MLB Rumors, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency

The Tigers and prized free-agent catcher Victor Martinez have agreed to a four-year deal worth $50 million, according to multiple reports.

Venezuelan reporter Ignacio Serrano of El Nacional was first to break the news of the agreement, and he reported that Detroit outbid the Red Sox, White Sox and Orioles for Martinez's services.

Martinez spent the last season-and-a-half with Boston, and hit .313 with 28 homers and 120 RBI over that span, so this is a significant blow in what is a weak catching market beyond Martinez. The Red Sox must decide by the end of Tuesday whether to offer Martinez's backup, Jason Varitek, arbitration.

It's a major coup for the Tigers, on the other hand, who watched their catchers hit a collective .223 last season as they struggled to hang with the White Sox and Twins in the AL Central.

 

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