Tigers star designated hitter Victor Martinez will try to capitalize on a monster season with a four-year deal as a free agent, according to sources.
The Tigers will extend the qualifying offer to the switch-hitting Martinez, according to people familair with their plans, but he will decline and try to repat the term he received four years ago from Detroit.
The Tigers are thrilled with Martinez's output over the term of that $52 million, four-year deal, and would love to have him back, but the length of the deal could be a sticking point if he insists on four years. While he can occasionally fill in at first base or catcher, he is generally a full-time DH at this point, albeit the best one in baseball going by 2014 numbers. The market should be hot for someone with his numbers.
Martinez is 35 and a DH, but he turned in a special season, hitting 32 home runs with 103 RBI and a .335 batting average. His year was even more special considering he led the AL with a .409 on-base percentage and .974 OPS in a year where pitchers generally dominated.
