Report: Free agent Victor Martinez prefers to re-sign with Tigers

Free agent designated hitter Victor Martinez prefers to re-sign with the Detroit Tigers. Martinez, 35, completed a four-year, $50 million contract this past season after signing with the Tigers in 2010.

Free agent designated hitter Victor Martinez prefers to re-sign with the Detroit Tigers, The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reports.

Martinez, 35, signed a four-year, $50 million contract with the Tigers in 2010. He batted .335 and hit a career-high 32 home runs with 103 RBIs this season while also leading the league in on-base percentage at .409.

Cafardo reports the Tigers are also interested in signing the four-time All-Star quickly.

This may not be a J.J. Hardy situation where he signs before free agency. But we do know this, according to a major league source familiar with Martinez: He prefers to work something out with the Tigers, so they will get first crack at him. If he elects free agency, comfort of the workplace will be extremely important. So you wonder about New York and whether we could be looking at more like Baltimore, Toronto, Chicago, or Texas. Suffice it to say, the Tigers would like to get it done sooner rather than later.

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Prior to joining the Tigers, Martinez played two-and-a-half seasons with the Boston Red Sox after starting his career with the Cleveland Indians. He has a .303 career batting average with 189 home runs and 927 RBIs.

Detroit was swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS after finishing the regular season 90-72. Martinez batted .333 with one home run and three RBIs during the postseason.

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- Paul Palladino