Detroit Tigers: Three Hypothetical Victor Martinez Trades

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila is looking to make the team younger and more financially sustainable. One way he could help achieve both goals would be to trade Victor Martinez.

Detroit Tigers fans could see a fairly different team take the field on Opening Day next season. A complete fire sale seems unlikely, but a few veteran pieces could conceivably be moved.

One of those said veteran pieces is Victor Martinez.

The designated hitter enjoyed a bounce-back season at the plate following last year a horrendous 2015 campaign.

Martinez batted .289 with a .351 on-base percentage while collecting 86 RBI, 65 runs scored, 27 home runs and 22 doubles. The batter also turned in a 120 wRC+, a .351 wOBA and a 0.9 WAR.

While many of those numbers were definite positives, Martinez remains a candidate to be traded for a handful of reasons.

The most prominent two are his age and contract. Per Spotrac, the 37-year-old will earn $18 million in 2017 and 2018 before hitting free agency.

For a Detroit Tigers franchise looking to shed payroll and become a sustainable contender, those two factors aren’t the most appealing where the long-term is considered.

There’s also the fact that Martinez wasn’t the best base runner in 2016. The designated hitter turned in a -11.4 BsR and a -9.2 UBR. By comparison, Jarrod Saltalamacchia posted a 1.0 BsR, while Casey McGehee’s UBR was 0.1.

Add in a lack of defensive value, and it may benefit the Tigers to move Martinez.

Here are three potential trades that would benefit the Detroit Tigers in the short term and long term.