UPDATE: The deal is official.
The #Tigers today announced the club has agreed to terms on a 2-year contract with OF @JDMartinez14, thus avoiding arbitration.
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 10, 2016
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Rumors from earlier in the offseason found that the Detroit Tigers and outfielder J.D. Martinez were discussing a long-term contract extension. Then the club signed outfielder Justin Upton and significantly altered the payroll.
Martinez didn't get the long-term pact he was hoping for, but he agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $18.5 million with the Tigers on Monday, according to Robert Murray of Baseball Essential.
Chris Cotillo of SB Nation confirmed the deal and Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reported that Martinez will make $6.75 million in 2016 and $11.75 million in 2017. The deal is pending a physical.
The Tigers have yet to confirm the contract.
Both sides looked to be heading to an arbitration hearing after they exchanged figures back in January. Martinez filed for an $8 million salary in 2016 and the Tigers countered at $6 million. After the team signed Upton, rumors indicated one- and two-year deals were being discussed with Martinez.
That was seemingly true, as Martinez will be locked up for his final two arbitration years.
"The deal gives both the team and Martinez security," Fenech wrote. "Should he continue on the upswing, he likely would garner more money in arbitration next year. Should his production drop off, his deal is locked in. Martinez is scheduled to hit free agency after the 2017 season."
Martinez, 28, was released by the Astros in March of 2014 and the Tigers signed him to a minor-league deal. Since coming to Detroit, the slugger is batting .296/.350/.543 with 150 runs scored, 61 home runs and 178 RBI in 281 games, establishing himself as one of the club's (and the MLB's) most prolific hitters.
MLBTradeRumors.com projected Martinez to earn $7.8 million in his second year of arbitration eligibility. He'll average $9.25 million over the next two seasons before he hits free agency for the first time in his career.
Stay tuned for an official announcement from the Tigers.
