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Tigers' Martinez 'an option' to catch early in season

Rick Osentoski / US PRESSWIRE / Reuters

Victor Martinez has logged just five games behind the plate for the Detroit Tigers since returning from the torn anterior cruciate ligament that sidelined him for the entire 2012 campaign.

Manager Brad Ausmus, however, mentioned this week that Martinez could once again strap on the pads during the first month of the 2015 campaign when his club heads to Pittsburgh for a three-game interleague series April 13 to 15.

Ausmus, who earned three Gold Glove awards as a catcher before taking over as manager of the Tigers, said he'd consider using Martinez behind the plate if Miguel Cabrera is healthy enough to play first base for that series against the Pittsburgh. 

"If Miggy's available, then Victor would be an option at catcher," Ausmus told Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.

Deploying Martinez at his old position would enable Ausmus to keep the 36-year-old in the lineup without the luxury of the designated hitter. If Cabrera is unable to play, however, Martinez would start at first base.

"So early on, it's going to depend where Miggy is," Ausmus said.

Martinez, who signed a four-year, $68-million deal earlier this offseason, clobbered a career-high 32 home runs while leading the majors with a .974 on-base plus slugging in 2014.

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