As expected, the Detroit Tigers announced after Tuesday’s win over the New York Yankees that Victor Martinez would be activated from the disabled list for Wednesday’s game.
The only question was what the corresponding roster move might be. Would the Tigers keep catcher Omir Santos on the roster, allowing Jim Leyland a bit more late-game roster flexibility? (For instance, pinch-running for Alex Avila without having to lose the DH if Martinez had to move to catcher.) Might Magglio Ordonez go to the DL? Could something else be in play?
As it turns out, the Tigers kept it simple. Santos was optioned to Triple-A Toledo after Tuesday’s game to clear a spot for Martinez.
Santos appeared in only two games (batting 1-for-5) for Detroit since being called up two weeks ago, both of those coming during the Tigers’ series in Seattle when Martinez was originally hurt and Alex Avila needed a rest.
Martinez returns to the Tigers after finishing a two-game rehab assignment with the Mud Hens. Before suffering the groin injury that landed him on the DL, he was batting .250/.292/.417 with two home runs and nine RBIs. The Tigers’ lineup has struggled to score runs without Martinez and desperately need him to bat behind Miguel Cabrera in the batting order.