Monday, April 21, 2014

Detroit tried to trade for J.D. Martinez this winter

A Detroit News article tells us that the Tigers have long been fans of J.D. Martinez - Tigers Assistant GM Al Avila knew him growing up in Miami. They were such fans that Detroit tried to acquire Martinez via trade this off-season, which the Astros declined. And when the Astros released Martinez in March, the Tigers were able to snap him up without it costing them a thing.

Writer Lynn Henning:
Why, precisely, the Astros gave up on a 6-foot-3 220-pound right-handed batter who had been used as a cleanup hitter last season is yet something of a mystery, explained best by an Astros team in the midst of a massive rebuilding program and stocked with excess outfielders. 

 Toledo manager Larry Parrish:
He was a kid who hopefully got caught up in some of the stuff Houston might have been talking about - walking and taking pitches - and I'm not sure that really fit him. Hopefully, our style is going to allow him to blossom a little bit and get back to the big leagues.

 This season for Triple-A Toledo, Martinez is hittimg .308/.366/.846 with 10HR and 22RBI, including a doubleheader last Saturday in which he went 4x6 with 4HR, 7RBI, and two walks. He added a homer on Friday, meaning his last five hits (in 10 ABs) have all left the yard. In his last ten games he's hitting .314/.400/1.057.

UPDATE:
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