Detroit Tigers exercise Alex Avila’s $5.4 million option

It will be a good holiday season in the Avila household as the Detroit Tigers have announced they will be exercising their 2015 team option on catcher Alex Avila for $5.4 million.

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The team had until Thursday to decide if they would exercise the option and officially did so on Monday. Avila now is no longer arbitration eligible and will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2015 season.

It had been previously reported that the Tigers had been exploring offers for Avila and this doesn’t really change anything. It is probably not a priority of the Tigers to deal their catcher, however they would listen to all reasonable offers as the 27-year old approaches free agency.

Avila experienced some career low numbers at the plate in 2014, posting a .218 average, 11 homers, 47 RBIs and .686 OPS, however his value behind the plate increased. After a fairly subpar 2013 defensive season, Avila turned it around and threw out 34 percent of would-be stealers, doubling his mark from 2013 (17%).

So who do you think will be the Tigers’ Opening Day catcher? Avila, James McCann, Bryan Holaday, Russell Martin or someone else?