The Detroit Tigers aren’t in a position to spend more money.
General manager Al Avila said as much on Tuesday afternoon, saying with certainty the team would not be a big player in the free agent market.
Avila wants the team to get younger. He wants more financial flexibility.
And this off-season, he will approach the trade market with a number of high-priced, uber-productive chips, none more likely to get moved – if a move is made – than rightfielder J.D. Martinez.
Martinez is scheduled to hit free agency after the 2017 season. He is due $11.