Martinez recorded a first-inning infield single Saturday and was removed for a pinch runner in what's expected to wind up as his final major-league at-bat.
V-Mart rolled one through the hole between first and second in the opening inning, and he beat the throw for an infield single before being removed from the game to an ovation from teammates, Royals and attendees. Martinez, 39, has experienced a precipitous power decline in later seasons, leaving the yard just nine times in 2018, but he'll finish a steady and often elite 16-year career with a .295 average, 2,153 hits, 246 homers and 1,178 RBI in 1,972 games.
Tigers' Victor Martinez: Plans to finish career Saturday
Rotowire
Martinez will take the final at-bats of his career Saturday against the Royals, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
The Tigers will have seven games remaining after Saturday, but Martinez wants his final at-bats to come in Detroit. With just two games remaining in his 16-year-career, the 39-year-old has posted a career .295/.360/.455 slash line with 246 homers and 2,151 hits.
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Tigers' Victor Martinez: Day off vs. Twins
Rotowire
Martinez is out of the lineup against Minnesota on Wednesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group reports.
Martinez will receive a breather after going 1-for-7 with a walk during the first two games of this series. In his place, Nick Castellanos will serve as the DH while Mikie Mahtook gets a start in the outfield.
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Tigers' Victor Martinez: Out of lineup Sunday
Rotowire
Martinez is not starting Sunday against Cleveland.
Martinez has just two weeks left in his major-league career after announcing his retirement Saturday. Nick Castellanos will be the Tigers' designated hitter Sunday, with Mikie Mahtook starting in right field.
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Tigers' Victor Martinez: Will retire at season's end
Rotowire
Martinez announced Saturday that he will retire at the end of the 2018 season, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Martinez has been limited to designated hitter duties for essentially all of the last four seasons and has started to show his age with a .671 OPS and only 19 home runs in 234 games over the last two years. The 39-year-old served as the Indians' catcher starting in 2004, but has primarily been a DH since joining the Tigers in 2011. Martinez also had a brief tenure with the Red Sox, and currently has a .295/.360/.455 slash line with 246 home runs and 1,177 RBI over his 16-year career.
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Tigers' Victor Martinez: Out of Wednesday's lineup
Rotowire
Martinez is not in the lineup against Houston on Wednesday, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports.
Martinez heads to the bench after starting seven of Detroit's past eight contests as Nick Castellanos gets a little breather serving as the club's DH for the series finale. Across 126 games this year, Martinez has hit .247/.295/.348 with nine home runs and 52 RBI.
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Tigers' Victor Martinez: Rides pine Sunday
Rotowire
Martinez is not in the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The veteran started the past five games but went hitless in his past two, lowering his season batting average to .249 in the process. Martinez will retreat to the bench for a day off after that showing, allowing Nick Castellanos to replace him at designated hitter and Jim Adduci to enter the lineup to fill the gap.
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Tigers' Victor Martinez: Launches home run in loss
Rotowire
Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's loss to the White Sox.
Martinez has been showcasing some power lately, as the veteran now has three home runs over his last four games. Martinez has had a down year overall with a disappointing .655 OPS, but he could be set for a strong final month before he retires after the season.
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Tigers' Victor Martinez: Drives in run with sac fly
Rotowire
Martinez went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly in a loss to the Yankees on Saturday.
Martinez, who homered twice against New York on Thursday, plated Mikie Mahtook in the top of the first inning against Masahiro Tanaka, who otherwise quelled Detroit's bats for most of the day. The 39-year-old was batting .308/.347/.655 in the second half heading into Saturday's contest, but he's hit just four homers in that stretch. That hasn't done much to save his underwhelming 2018 (.252/.301/.353, eight homers in 452 plate appearances).
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Tigers' Victor Martinez: Receives breather Sunday
Rotowire
Martinez is not in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Yankees.
Martinez will hit the bench for the second time in the last five games, as he just finished up his most productive month of the season, slashing .295/.330/.443 with two home runs and 12 RBI in August. Nick Castellanos will serve as the Tigers' designated hitter while Victor Reyes takes over in right field.
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Tigers' Victor Martinez: Goes deep twice in win against Yankees
Rotowire
Martinez went 2-for-5 with two, two-run home runs in Thursday's 8-7 win over the Yankees.
The 39-year-old turned back the clock in this one and looked like the slugger he once was. Martinez took New York starter J.A. Happ deep in the fifth, then blasted a game-tying, two-run shot against Dellin Betances in the ninth inning. The veteran has had a solid month, as he's now batting .286 in August with the two home runs and 12 RBI.
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Tigers' Victor Martinez: Not in Wednesday's lineup
Rotowire
Martinez is out of the lineup versus the Royals on Wednesday, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports.
Martinez will take a seat after going 0-for-3 with a hit by pitch during Tuesday's affair. In his absence, Nick Castellanos will man the DH spot while Victor Reyes, JaCoby Jones and Mikie Mahtook earn starts in the outfield.
