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The Detroit Tigers have agreed to a contract with free agent catcher Victor Martinez, according to multiple reports. Martinez's deal is for four years, and they will pay the switch-hitting catcher roughly $50 million.

Martinez may catch less often with Detroit than he has in previous seasons, seeing more time at designated hitter as he ages.

For the Tigers, Martinez is a coup.

He batted .302/.351/.493, and launched 20 home runs in 538 plate appearances for the Red Sox in 2010, a pretty typical season for the four-time All-Star.

After winning their first World Series since moving to San Francisco, the Giants took their first step in the offseason by giving their first baseman Aubrey Huff a two-year, $22 million extension. The deal also includes a $10 million club option for 2013. This is a great deal for the 33-year-old first baseman. 

Free agent catcher Victor Martinez has become another name on the dotted line for the quickly revamping Detroit Tigers. According to reports, the Tigers have signed the switch-hitting Martinez for a four-year deal worth $50 million.

Last season for the Boston Red Sox, Martinez hit .303 with 20 home runs and 79 RBI, the only catcher to hit .300 or more with 20 home runs last season.

Like George Costanza, the New York Mets are doing the opposite these days.

With Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel running the show, the Mets had an undisciplined, laid-back, laissez-faire and for the most part dysfunctional organization.

Now they are doing everything they can to try to find the complete opposite of the things that went on over the past couple of seasons.

Most of the Hot Stove headlines in Major League Baseball will go to the big-ticket free agents that have landed on the open market. Prudent teams, however, can often make major improvements to their rosters by targeting less-heralded players in free agency.

Given the big-money nature of MLB salaries in the 21st century, it's hard to argue that any free agent signing is a true bargain, but when looking at players from a cost-to-production perspective, second-tier free agents can frequently pay big dividends.

After two thrilling wins in San Francisco, the World Series shifted to Arlington, Texas, on Saturday night. The Rangers finally showed some signs of life and won game three in front of their home crowd. Tonight, the Rangers will look to even the series with Tommy Hunter on the mound. The Giants will send Madison Bumgarner to the bump and are seeking a commanding three games to one lead.

The big pregame news is Giants outfielder Pat Burrell isn't starting. Instead, Nate Schierholtz will start in his place.

An offer has been made to re-acquire the services of Hisanori Takahashi, but unless the Mets significantly up the offer, he is almost certain to walk.

Earlier today it was reported by Dave Waldstein of the New York Post that the Mets have offered Takahashi an incentive-leaden one-year proposal. Takahashi is reported as seeking a deal between two to three years and if the Mets don’t significantly up the offer, he will more than likely walk to any of the other 29 remaining teams.

The Texas Rangers hung on to take a must-win Game 3 by a 4-2 score over the San Francisco Giants before their spirited home fans.

The Rangers Ballpark in Arlington fans saw their hometown heroes come away victorious in their first-ever shot at hosting a World Series game. While the Giants still hold a 2-1 edge and maintain home-field advantage, the Rangers have now made it a series. Indeed, a win Sunday night would knot the series at two-all, with a chance to give Cliff Lee another chance to be, well, Cliff Lee in Game 5.

Game three of the World Series is tonight on Fox. The San Francisco Giants and Jonathan Sanchez will look to bounce up three games to none against the Texas Rangers and Colby Lewis.

Someone once said that a playoff series hasn't begun until a road team wins.

Based on that idea, the matchup between the Giants and Rangers is still at the starting line. The next three games of the 2010 World Series will be played in Arlington, and that suits Ron Washington and his ball club just fine.

Down 2-0, the Rangers need a win to reverse the momentum that the Giants established in the pair of games at AT&T Park.

Here are three keys for a Game 3 victory for the Rangers: