Victor Martinez signs with Tigers, Huff re-ups with Giants

The first big fish in the free agent pond has been caught!

Slugging catcher Victor Martinez, formerly of the Boston Red Sox, signed a four-year, $50 million contract with the Detroit Tigers today. Martinez, a type-A free agent, hit .302 with 20 home runs and 79 RBIs over 127 games (he missed some time due to a fractured thumb) for the BoSox. One of the game's best offensive catchers, a career .302 hitter, Martinez may see a majority of his time next season in the designated hitter's slot rather than the catcher's spot. While certainly not a great defensive catcher (in fact, one of the worst), Martinez, 32, is still very valuable with the bat. This will give the Tigers the ability to let rookie catcher Alex Avila, 23, to grow into the position and be the catcher of the future.

In return, since he is a type-A free agent, the Red Sox get Detroit's first round draft pick next year, which comes in at #19 overall, baring they don't sign another type-A free agent. The Red Sox offered Martinez a 3-year/$36 million contract and a 4-year/$42 million contract before he decided to sign with Detroit.

Martinez is a great signing by the Tigers, as I predicted this was where he would end up. The Tigers, who still have $52 million to spend on free agents, could even add more free agents, such as Adam Dunn or even Cliff Lee. Martinez gives the Tigers the middle-of-the-order bat they've been searching for to give protection to Miguel Cabrera since the loss of Magglio Ordonez earlier in the season. His home run numbers will diminish by playing in a large ballpark like Comerica, but it all came down to the money and years for Martinez. The Tigers aren't done yet with their offseason.

Aubrey Huff is returning for another go-around in San Francisco Bay. The 34 year-old recently crowned World Champion is getting a two-year, $22 million contract from the Giants, an upgrade from the 1-year, $3 million contract he got last year from the Giants late in the offseason.

Huff, who was one of many that embodied the Giants rag-tag spirit last season which propelled them to their first World Title in 52 years, hit .290 with 26 home runs and 86 RBIs for the black & orange last season. He had said earlier in the offseason that he wanted to return to San Francisco.