Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Free-agent catcher Victor Martinez is bolting the Boston Red Sox to sign with the Detroit Tigers, according to multiple media reports on Tuesday.
Two weeks ago, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein expressed his strong interest in re-signing Martinez and third baseman Adrian Beltre. But he acknowledged competition for the players.
“It always comes down to dollars and years,” Epstein said.
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.
Martinez is a Type-A free agent, meaning the Red Sox will receive comensation for his signing elsewhere — assuming they offer him arbitration. The Red Sox will receive the Tigers’ No. 1 pick (No. 19 overall) and a first-round “sandwich” pick, a selection that will come after the regular first round and before the second round.
Next June’s draft class is anticipated to be very strong, and the ’11 draft may be the last in which the Sox will be able to employ their very successful strategy of paying above slot in later rounds for premium talent that dropped because of contract demands. With the collective bargaining agreement due to expire in November, the draft is expected to undergo extensive revisions as part of negotiations. The switch-hitting Martinez was extremely productive for the Red Sox since his acquisition from Cleveland at the 2009 trading deadline. Martinez, who turns 32 on Dec. 23, batted .313 in 183 games with the Red Sox, with 28 home runs and 120 RBIs. Last season, he was the only big-league catcher in the majors to hit .300 or better while hitting 20 or more home runs, despite missing 22 games with a fractured left thumb. He was dominating against left-handed pitchers, batting .400, slugging .742 and posting a 1.173 OPS
Martinez is a lifetime .300 switch hitter, a four-time All-Star and also plays first base.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who was acquired from the Rangers last season, becomes No. 1 on the depth chart at catcher for the Red Sox. The team has until midnight Tuesday night to offer arbitration to longtime catcher Jason Varitek.
The Tigers lacked production from the catcher’s spot last season. Rookie Alex Aliva, 23, batted .228 in 104 games, while 30-year-old Gerald Laird hit just .207 in 89 games.
Detroit finished 81-81 in 2010, which was good for third place in the AL Central.
Information from ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes contributed to this report. Ignacio Serrano is a regular contributor to ESPNdeportes.com.
