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AP source: Tigers reach 4-year deal with Martinez

FILE - This Aug. 20, 2014, file photo shows Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez following the flight of his grand slam off Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Kirby Yates during the seventh inning of a baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. A person with knowledge of the deal says the Tigers have agreed to a $68 million, four-year contract with slugger Victor Martinez. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the agreement has not been announced. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
FILE - This Aug. 20, 2014, file photo shows Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez following the flight of his grand slam off Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Kirby Yates during the seventh inning of a baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. A person with knowledge of the deal says the Tigers have agreed to a $68 million, four-year contract with slugger Victor Martinez. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the agreement has not been announced. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File) FILE - This Aug. 20, 2014, file photo shows Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez following the flight of his grand slam off Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Kirby Yates during the seventh inning of a baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. A person with knowledge of the deal says the Tigers have agreed to a $68 million, four-year contract with slugger Victor Martinez. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the agreement has not been announced. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

By Associated Press 2 min read

DETROIT (AP) – Victor Martinez has agreed to a $68 million, four-year contract to stay with the Detroit Tigers, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Thursday because the agreement has not been announced.

The 35-year-old Martinez had perhaps his best season in 2014, hitting .335 with 32 home runs and 103 RBIs and helping Detroit to its fourth straight AL Central title – a streak that began after the Tigers signed him as a free agent before the 2011 season. That four-year deal was worth $50 million, and Detroit got plenty of value out of Martinez even though he missed the whole 2012 season with a knee injury.

The switch-hitting designated hitter has batted over .300 in eight of his last nine seasons, not counting the year he missed. His bat carried the Tigers at times in 2014, when Miguel Cabrera slipped slightly from his MVP form.

Martinez has been a consistent force throughout his career, but he’d never hit more than 25 home runs until last season. His average also was a career high, surpassing the .330 mark he posted in 2011.