Mariners Rumors: Is Victor Martinez a Viable Option For the Mariners?

It’s going to take a lot to pry Victor Martinez away from the Detroit Tigers. So much that the Mariners may not have a real shot at signing the veteran DH without severely overpaying. Teammate J.D. Martinez spoke to the Detroit Free Press recently, stating emphatically that Victor Martinez wants to stay in Detroit.

So is there any chance the Mariners make a deal for the 36-year old slugger?

In 12 Major League seasons, V-Mart has been a dependable hitter. And now, as a DH, he could do similarly for the Mariners. Should they stop at nothing to make him a Mariner?

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Pros:

Victor Martinez would solidify the DH position for the Mariners. A position of weakness in recent seasons for the M’s, Martinez would make the DH spot a source of power and dependability in the lineup.

He could hit between Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager in the lineup, creating a formidable power trio for other teams to contend with.

He knows how to win. In his 3 seasons with Detroit he made it to the World Series, and has been reliable through and through as a full-time DH.

Cons:

He is old. At 36, Victor Martinez is well past his physical prime, and his numbers could start declining sooner than later.

He is going to be expensive. I would guess he wants 4 years at around $15 million a season, a steep price tag for someone who doesn’t play any sort of defense.

There is also a first round pick tied to Martinez with the qualifying offer.

His best offensive season was in 2014. You would be hard pressed to see him even remotely repeat those numbers in 2015, let alone the next three or four seasons.

Synopsis:

V-Mart would be a great fit for the Mariners offensive needs, but I think his price tag and his durability are major concerns. If the Mariners could get him for 3-years/$36 million, I’d be far more inclined to it. But don’t expect his price to be so low in an offensively-starved free agent class.