Well, it looks like one of the names that the Orioles were rumored to go after may probably be off the free agent market sooner rather than later. Both Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and the Boston Globe’s Extra Bases blog is reporting that Victor Martinez is about to sign a long-term deal with the Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers have plenty of money to burn thanks to numerous contracts that have come off their books.
From Ken Rosenthal:
The first major free agent is about to fall.
Catcher Victor Martinez is close to signing with the Tigers, a source confirms.
Ignacio Serrano, a reporter for Venezuela’s El Nacional, reported that Martinez will receive a four-year, $50 million contract.
The Tigers outbid the Red Sox, White Sox and Orioles, Serrano said.
From the Boston Globe:
There has yet to be any independent confirmation of this.
Serrano also reports that Martinez was offered four years and $48 million from the Orioles and three years and $48 million from the White Sox. Why he would take $12.5 million a year from Detroit and pass up $16 million a year from Chicago isn’t clear.
If the deal goes through and assuming the Red Sox offer Martinez arbitration later today, the Red Sox would receive Detroit’s first-round draft pick, No. 19, for Martinez.
Martinez turns 32 next month and is coming off a season that saw him hit .302/.351/.493 for the Red Sox.
UPDATE, 10:25 p.m.: Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is now confirming the report out of Venezuela.
