Detroit Tigers Links: V-Mart reinforces 2015 team, Avila on trading block, Hanrahan could be back

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It was a crazy day for Detroit Tigers Hot Stove moves yesterday when it was announced that Victor Martinez had re-upped with the team for four years at $68 million and Devon Travis was traded away for centerfielder Anthony Gose.

Of course it is a risk giving a 36-year old a four-year deal (he’ll be 39 at the end of the contract) but then again any contract in sports with guaranteed dollars is a risk.

There are pros and cons for every move. Fans upset that Martinez is back for near $70 million would have been dwarfed by the angry masses if the Tigers had tried and failed (or didn’t even try as appears will be the case with Max Scherzer–though credit the team for the $144 million offer last month that Max spurned).

Martinez had the best season of his career in 2014, which followed a very solid 2013. He seems to have several productive years ahead of him. Nationally, most figured this was a move the Tigers had to make and Craig Calcaterra has an interesting analogy for the Tigers and the people predicting doom for them each season.

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Next…say it ain’t so?! Alex Avila is on the trading block. It would be interesting to see what Detroit gets in return for the defensive stud but offensively lacking veteran. Should he be dealt would the Tigers be in on Russell Martin even after the high dollars going to Martinez?

Lastly we look at how the Tigers are close to bringing back Joel Hanrahan. I think this would be a very solid move. Hanrahan was built as the bullpen savior when signing midyear with Detroit but couldn’t come completely back from Tommy John Surgery. He is likely to give the Tigers first shot since they were the team that signed him and ran a risk he wouldn’t play–which turned out to be the case.

If signed, Joel will receive a minor league deal–so no real risk.

Why is the Victor Martinez signing good? Because the Detroit Tigers are the Bluesmobile – Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports

"Because the Tigers, as currently constructed, are the Blues Brothers’ 1974 Dodge Monaco.They may be close to falling apart, but they haven’t fallen apart just yet. Indeed, they still haul ass with that 440 Magnum engine, cop tires, cop suspension and cop shocks. They’re a model made before catalytic converters so they’ll run good on regular gas. They just won the AL Central again and look to be in good shape to win it again in 2015, even if they lose Max Scherzer. When you got a car like that you drive it until it literally falls apart. Which could come at any second, but man it’s gonna move until that time comes, so don’t stop, whatever you do."

Report: Tigers listening to offers on Alex Avila – Chris Cwik, CBS Sports

"Both the Red Sox and Braves are said to have interest in the 27-year-old. Avila struggled through last season, and missed time due to concussions. He hit just .218/.327/.359 over 390 at-bats."

Detroit Tigers might bring back Joel Hanrahan – Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press

"Hanrahan, 33, signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Tigers last May, with the hopes that he would add an experienced arm to the beleaguered bullpen.But his recovery from Tommy John Surgery in 2013 never accelerated to the point of pitching in live games and consequently, he never saw action in Detroit."