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    Big League Stew

    Torn ACL likely ends Victor Martinez’s 2012 season before it even begins

    By Ian Casselberry | Big League Stew – Tue, Jan 17, 2012 5:36 PM EST

    Victor Martinez hit .330 and drove in 102 runs for the Detroit Tigers in 2011. (AP)

    A relatively quiet offseason for the Detroit Tigers just got noisy.

    But for all the wrong reasons.

    It was announced on Tuesday that designated hitter Victor Martinez tore the ACL in his left knee during a workout last week and will likely miss the entire 2012 season.

    Martinez, 33, originally thought he'd strained the knee, but an MRI exam on Monday revealed the tear. He will re-evaluated next week to determine whether surgery is necessary. But Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski acknowledged that the chances of Martinez avoiding surgery and being able to play this season are very poor.

    According to head trainer Danny Rand, Martinez suffered the injury while going through agility drills. His right foot slipped, causing all of his weight to come down on that left knee. Martinez strained the same knee last season while running the bases. Did that leave him more vulnerable to this type of injury?

    Martinez was the Tigers' best hitter not named Miguel Cabrera last season, hitting .330/.380/.470 with 12 home runs and 103 RBIs. His .850 OPS was third on the team, while that .330 batting average was the sixth-highest in the majors.

    Obviously, this is a huge blow to a Tigers lineup that scored the fourth-most runs (787) in the big leagues, despite having few hitters who could reliably get on base and arguably needed to add another bat even before Martinez got hurt.

    (AP)The question now becomes how the Tigers replace Martinez in their batting order. (Signing Martinez's son, Victor Jose, probably isn't an option as he's only 6 years old.)

    Detroit has been mentioned as one of the teams in pursuit of Cuban outfielder Yoennis Cespedes. Signing him would allow the Tigers to play Delmon Young at DH, where he's arguably better suited anyway.

    But if there's a bright side to this development (and really, it's small consolation), it's that many DH-type of hitters are still available on the free-agent market.

    None of them will likely be able to replace Martinez's production, but Detroit should still be able to find someone to bat behind Cabrera. (That is, if the Tigers don't decide to put Alex Avila or Jhonny Peralta in the lineup's No. 5 spot.)

    Vladimir Guerrero, Casey Kotchman and Hideki Matsui are among the players that could help the Tigers out in the short-term. Carlos Pena and Johnny Damon are both former Tigers who could return to the team for a second tour. Perhaps a trade for someone like Carlos Lee, Alfonso Soriano or Bobby Abreu is a possibility.

    Or for those Tigers fans living in fantasy land, maybe Dombrowski can check with Scott Boras and see if Prince Fielder really is willing to take a one-year deal and try the free agent market again next year.

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    32 comments

    • Scott
      Scott  •  4 months ago
      NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
    • AndreaL
      AndreaL  •  Belleville, Michigan  •  3 months ago
      I wouldn't mind seeing Damon back in the D.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  4 months ago
      Signing Prince Felder to a 1 year contract isnt out of the question. Dave Dombrowski and Scott Boras have a history of last minute deals and wouldnt surprise me if they are talking right now. I think Prince Fielder would benefit greatly by signing with some team for 1 year and hitting the market again next year where he will be the prize and get the money he is looking for. I also think they dont really need to sign anyone and still get by just fine. Switch Delmon Young to DH and give playing time to Andy Dirks and give him the chance to produce his 30+ home run potential. He is a good hitter and deserves a shot.
      • whooo!
        whooo! 4 months ago
        i think that boesch would be better suited for the DH role more so than dirks but i could be wrong. as for fielder signing, he doesn't want to be a DH so unless there is a agreement with cabrera to split time or something, it's highly unlikely
      • Dan
        Dan 4 months ago
        No chance of that happening. He wouldn't benefit at all from waiting one year except to potentially get the Dodgers involved. But the 9 figure money risk vs that one team is simply not worth it - that would be truly insane. And the Yanks, Sox, and Angels still won't be involved. That leaves the same suitors in the Cubs, Mariners, Nats, maybe Rangers, maybe Orioles, maybe Dodgers, etc. The bottom line is that the risk of injury on a one year deal vs a nine figure contract is tremendous and the benefit would be RELATIVELY minimal. He needs to sign a big contract now; not hope for one later. It's just smart business. I'm sure Tigers fans would hope differently, but that's irrelevant; we're talking about reality.
      • CokeCanRooster
        CokeCanRooster 4 months ago
        Prince hates his Father and will NEVER come to Detroit because his Dad played in D-Town. Not going to happen!!!!!!!!!
    • tom s
      tom s  •  4 months ago
      Carlos Lee would be the best thing to do Houston is in a rebuilding mode and probably would not require a bunch of talent,Delmon would be a no brainer at the DH position.If they dont get Lee theni would go with Matsui.Either way Detroit has a chance to land a big time player and Dombrowski better make it happen.
    • Jon
      Jon  •  4 months ago
      I don't know how they figure Martinez out for the entire season... ACL reconstruction is a 6 month recovery with decent rehab. It's baseball, not football. As good as these doctors are getting these days, Martinez will be back 4-6 months, post surgery, ready to DH.
    • Shut It
      Shut It  •  4 months ago
      Vlad Guerrero is the best option (assuming that we don't get Cespedes and that we can get Vlad for under $5mil.). DH him 5 or 6 games a week with the other days going to rest Cabrera and Delmon Young when he isn't in LF. With the offense we have the defensive liability of a Raburn/Young platoon isn't as bad as people are making it out to be.
    • KC supercharger
      KC supercharger  •  Mt Pleasant, Michigan  •  4 months ago
      Agility drills? Really? ....for a guy that hurt the same knee last year?.....plus, he's 33. Why take the chance?....
    • free chips
      free chips  •  Portland, Oregon  •  4 months ago
      Plenty of options. They are not going to pay big money. Go to a NL team that has players more suitable for DH. The Met's Murphy comes to mind as Wright and Davis are blocking his path to corner I.F. positions. More of a #3 hitter though and could play 3rd later when Martinez gets back
    • J
      J  •  4 months ago
      The Tigers could afford Fielder and frankly thats their only option if they want to actually beat out the Rangers and Angels etc and go to the WS.Other wise its an AL Central title and exit Illitch wants more.
    • nonie
      nonie  •  Traverse City, Michigan  •  4 months ago
      LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the prince fielder call.... GO TIGERS
    • Michael
      Michael  •  Eastpointe, Michigan  •  4 months ago
      Boesch will come back this spring can play left field/and with Delmon Young. Rayburn can play anywhere. Don't know if Josh Hamilton would want to give up the Heat for the milder weather, but he could fit. Prince Fielder would be ideal, but would Miguel go back to playing third base? He could play there two game out the week, platooning with Brandon Inge. Igne could platoon behind the plate to give Avilia a break sometime. Prince and Miguel could switch off between left and right hand pitchers. Just give Miguel and extension, put him at third base, rotate him with Igne, and find a Bat to replace Martinez. 103 RBI are very hard to replace Go " TIGERS". Oh yes, they could pickup the Yankee's Catcher they just released and he is left hand batter,
      • Casey O.
        Casey O. 4 months ago
        1. It's Raburn
        2. I think the idea would be for Prince to DH.
    • Joseph
      Joseph  •  4 months ago
      Need to get an outfielder... this allows a temporary move of Young to DH which is addition by subtraction
    • Paul Wall
      Paul Wall  •  Portage, Michigan  •  4 months ago
      id rather see delmon at dh anyway..he scares me in lf...as far as damon...dont want his lollipop arm again...i could deal with pierre..hes only 35 as opposed to ibanez who will be 40 this yr..pierre still has some wheels, doesnt strike out alot either...or dd might want to sign former tiger cody ross..
    • The Guy
      The Guy  •  4 months ago
      This idea may be far-fetched, but why not offer something to Texas for Josh Hamilton? He is in the last year of his contract and it would free them up to sign Yu Darvish AND go after Prince Fielder..
      • mike
        mike 4 months ago
        Getting Hamilton would make better sence., as he can play all the outfield & DH.
        This would free up money to pay for Fielder and Darvish
      • Shut It
        Shut It 4 months ago
        To get Hamilton the Tigers would have to trade Porcello, Turner and prospects. Not going to happen.
    • Randy H
      Randy H  •  Newtown, Pennsylvania  •  4 months ago
      Soriano from the Cubs
    • scottB
      scottB  •  Livonia, Michigan  •  4 months ago
      Just looking at a option if all the big names decline. Juan Pierre could be an option. Plays left field and also could bring some speed to the top of the order. Also gives you the option to DH Young. Fastball hitter behind Cabe. Just an option that wouldnt break the bank.
      • A Yahoo! User 4 months ago
        We need offense not another Ramon Santiago
      • John
        John 4 months ago
        When has Ramon stolen 80 bags....Pierre is a very good option is an order position the Tigers really need....Leadoff.
      • KC supercharger
        KC supercharger 4 months ago
        Peirre sucks in the field...just sayin'
    • crazy cracka
      crazy cracka  •  4 months ago
      Prince Fielder is not coming to the Tigers for two simple reasons. First, if Albert Pujols received a 10 year / $240 million deal with the Angels, Prince would want 1 year / $20 million. Second, the Tigers are not the Yankees or Red Soxs with huge budgets.
      • A Yahoo! User 4 months ago
        Its one season and Mike Illich is known to spend the money if he feels it will put the team over the top. He knows Prince Fielder well. He was the owner back when his dad Cecil was the Tigers power hitting 1st baseman. Mike Illich is around 84 years old and wants to see a World Series before he passes away. He can afford it. Plus Prince Fielder might sign for about $12-15 million. He wants to win and the Tigers are coming off a great season and expectations are high.
      • Casey O.
        Casey O. 4 months ago
        Illitch can and will spend whatever he needs to. I don't think it would be out of the question for him to swing 20 million for a year of Prince.
      • mike
        mike 4 months ago
        The population of detroit keeps getting smaller and smaller every year.
        Its been a grossly mismanaged city(not the team) for over 70 years in a row.
        Detroit is not going to have two all star first basement on its team.
        I do agree, that its going to take at least 20 million to get fielder to sign.
        ...But...., you would have better odds at playing the Powerball lottery.
    • Bob
      Bob  •  4 months ago
      Anybody who thinks the Royals will compete for the division anytime soon is probably also dreaming of a successful NHL team in KC...otherwise known as delusional.
    • dagoldeneagle
      dagoldeneagle  •  4 months ago
      Vlad Guerrero could be this year's Lance Berkman. Hell give him some time in outfield too. Last year when the Cardinals signed Berkman, who struggled in 2009 especially in the second half as a full-time DH playing in hitter haven Yankees Stadium, to play outfield (he hadn't played there in 4-5 years), all the defensive metric fanatics laughed and Berkman responded by producing at an elite level. Defense is overrated. If Vlad could mash like he did in 2009, which is not out of the realm of possibilities, he's probably the biggest bargain. At worst, he could still hit for a decent average. It's very likely that he was not motivated last season playing for the Orioles. Matsui is another solid hitter who had the misfortune of playing half his game in Oakland Coliseum. Damon is not enough of a power hitter to be a full-time DH. I still don't mind seeing him at corner outfield. Remember he only DH-ed last year because Manny retired.
    • DC
      DC  •  4 months ago
      I vote for the fantasy option!
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