The Tigers and outfielder J.D. Martinez have discussed a long-term contract extension, MLive.com’s Chris Iott reports. “I love this team. I want to be part of this team. I would love to be a Tiger for life,” Martinez said before the team’s annual caravan in Michigan.
Martinez, 28, was released by the Astros in March 2014 and the Tigers happily snapped him up two days later. Over the last two seasons, Martinez has hit 63 doubles, 61 home runs, driven in 178 RBI, and posted an .893 OPS while playing decent defense in the outfield.
Martinez and the Tigers didn’t settle ahead of last Friday’s arbitration submission deadline. The slugger filed for $8 million and the team countered at $6 million in his second of three years of arbitration eligibility. An extension would help the two sides avoid a hearing in February.