Reports: Victor Martinez to Tigers

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.

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

Eh, they losta good player, but he never impressed me as a game changer...they really do need a catcher, though.

nt

and catch Sabathia again. I wish him well (except when he plays Cleveland) -- he's a good guy.

I think the fans think we need a C but I think the necessity is overblown.

Let's assume Tek is still a pretty-great C when limited to 2-3 games behind the plate a week (and he really is, last season as a P/T was his best season in years both as a C and at the plate.) Let's also assume that Salty, whose problems have never been skill as much as durability and "yips", would also likely thrive as a P/T player. Also consider that we've got a kid in double-A (Luis Exposito) who is going to be pretty-good and is only 2 season away from being a big-leaguer and could see time next year in spot call-up in the case of an injury. (The current assessment is that he's defensively capable of being a big-leaguer today, it's his hitting and pitch-calling that need work.)

Why would we want to get wrapped up in a long-term big-money contract for Buck, VMart or Laird, the only 3 catchers available this offseason better than a Tek/Salty platoon? We did that at SS last year and now we're rumored to be shopping Scutaro.