Tigers Agree to Terms with Victor Martinez

DETROIT - The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has agreed to terms with designated hitter Victor Martinez on a four-year contract through the 2018 season.

"Victor is one of the premier hitters in the league and we are thrilled that he will continue his career in a Tigers uniform," said Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski. "His production in the middle of our lineup and veteran leadership are invaluable to our ballclub."
 
"Victor's presence both on the field and in the clubhouse is an essential part of this club," said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. "I have never seen a hitter more focused in the batter's box than Victor, and I couldn't be more excited to welcome him back."

Martinez, the 35-year-old switch-hitter, batted .335 (188x561) with 87 runs scored, 33 doubles, 32 home runs and 103 RBI in 151 games for the Tigers in 2014. He led the American League with a .409 on base-percentage, 28 intentional walks and one strikeout every 15.26 plate appearances, ranked second with a .335 batting average and a .565 slugging percentage, third with 57 multi-hit games, tied for fourth with 188 hits, fifth with 317 total bases, seventh with 65 extra-base hits and a .326 batting average with runners in scoring position, tied for seventh with 103 RBI, and eighth with 32 home runs. Martinez established new career highs in hits, home runs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Martinez became the first player in Tigers history to hit 30-or-more home runs and strike out 45-or-fewer times in a season and the first major league player to do so since Barry Bonds in 2004.

In 12 seasons at the major league level with the Cleveland Indians (2002-09), Boston Red Sox (2009-10) and Tigers (2011-present), Martinez is hitting .306 (1668x5445) with 344 doubles, three triples, 189 home runs and 927 RBI in 1,459 games. He has hit 20-or-more home runs in six seasons, while he has collected 100-or-more RBI in five seasons during his career. Additionally, Victor has batted .315 (47x149) with eight doubles, six home runs and 22 RBI in 39 games in his career during the postseason.

Martinez was selected to the American League All-Star team this past season which marked his fifth career selection and first with the Tigers. He earned AL Player of the Month honors for August after batting .350 (41x117) with 20 runs scored, five doubles, six home runs and 30 RBI. He was awarded the 2014 AL Silver Slugger Award as Designated Hitter and finished second in the 2014 AL Most Valuable Player BBWAA voting.