Victor Martinez to sign with the Tigers

[NAHSTE]

Former Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez will join the Detroit Tigers this offseason, according to ESPN.com and a Venezuelan newspaper. Four years, $50M.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5842176

"It always comes down," Epstein said, "to dollars and years."

Martinez will receive a four-year deal for $50 million, according to Venezuelan reporter Ignacio Serrano of El Nacional, who first reported the agreement. Martinez made $7.7 million last season.

The Red Sox offered Martinez a choice of a three-year, $36 million deal or a four-year contract for $42 million, according to a major league source. The source said the Red Sox had not been informed of Martinez's decision, but the team was not surprised to hear that he would play elsewhere.

The Orioles and White Sox were also outbid, according to the El Nacional report.

[Goober]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. I was hoping the Tigers would trade for Prince Fielder. I wanted Jacob Turner.

Martinez was by far a better option though.

[FedEx227]

That's a lot of money for a guy who probably won't be catching full time for a few more years.

Decent hitter though, so it's not a terrible deal, but he'll probably be a 1B/DH by the last 2 years of the deal.

[EmpireWF]

A good signing but like you guys mentioned, half way through the contract, he'll be at first or the DH.

Over $12 mil may be a lot for a first base version of VMart, although you figure his offense should increase once he's away from the plate.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I was pulling for Baltimore. I like to see bad teams land players, baseball needs more of that.

[Fappin Raptor]

Good, I was tired of seeing that turd Gerald Laird.

[Miggy]

another venezuelan to the Tigers

[Lanteri]

I was pulling for Baltimore. I like to see bad teams land players, baseball needs more of that.

A bad team would be landing a player...

[Warner2BruceTD]

A bad team would be landing a player...

Baltimore hasnt been decent in a long, long time. And Detroit always gets big players.

[Lanteri]

Baltimore hasnt been decent in a long, long time. And Detroit always gets big players.

It's irrelevant anyway. No top of the line free agent would go to Baltimore anyway. Who wants to sign on to play for a lost cause behind the Sox, Yanks, and Rays? They're pretty much stuck with reclamation projects and washed up old vets as far as free agents are concerned.

[Goober]

It's irrelevant anyway. No top of the line free agent would go to Baltimore anyway. Who wants to sign on to play for a lost cause behind the Sox, Yanks, and Rays? They're pretty much stuck with reclamation projects and washed up old vets as far as free agents are concerned.

And that's what's wrong with baseball. Among other things. The scheduling, and divisions are beyond retarded.

[Warner2BruceTD]

It's irrelevant anyway. No top of the line free agent would go to Baltimore anyway. Who wants to sign on to play for a lost cause behind the Sox, Yanks, and Rays? They're pretty much stuck with reclamation projects and washed up old vets as far as free agents are concerned.

Well, that's kinda my point. That's why I like to see players go to teams like that, to shorter the gap a bit.

[EmpireWF]

Who were the big free agent signings the Rays had when they finally won?

[NAHSTE]

Teixiera and AJ Burnett almost signed with the O's because of local ties. That area does produce a lot of ball players, but it seems like the Nats will soon lap them in the free agency dept. for the local guys. They have more money and a relatively easier path to the playoffs.

[NAHSTE]

Who were the big free agent signings the Rays had when they finally won?

Eric Hinske.