Tigers tender offers to Scherzer, V-Mart

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Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) – The Detroit Tigers wasted little time making decisions on 2013 American League Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and designated hitter Victor Martinez, extending one-year qualifying offers to the two All-Stars one day after both filed for free agency.

The expected moves were among several transactions announced by the Tigers on Friday, which also included the team exercising its 2015 option on reliever Joakim Soria.

Tendering qualifying offers, which ensures the Tigers would receive draft-pick compensation in the event Scherzer and Martinez sign with another team, was a no-brainer in the case of both players.

Scherzer, who followed up a 21-3 season in 2013 by going 18-5 with a career- high 252 strikeouts this past year, is considered arguably the top pitcher on the offseason market. Martinez, coming off a monster season in which he finished second in the AL batting race with a .335 average and belted 32 homers with 103 RBI, may be the best available hitter.

Soria had his $7 million option picked up despite struggling with the Tigers after being acquired from Texas at the trade deadline. The veteran righty had a 4.91 ERA in 13 regular season appearances following the deal, then was rocked for five runs in an inning of work over two games in Detroit’s loss to Baltimore in the AL Division Series.

The Tigers also placed utilityman Don Kelly on waivers along with outfielder Andy Dirks and pitchers Evan Reed and Patrick McCoy.

Kelly, who has played in 545 games with Detroit over the past six seasons, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo along with Reed. Dirks, out all of last season while recovering from back surgery, was claimed by Toronto and McCoy was claimed by the Orioles.

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