Victor Martinez realistic entering contract’s last season

Sports shorts

At age 39 and fresh off a heart problem that cut his 2017 season short, Victor Martinez is grateful for the career he’s had.

He’s also realistic about the future.

Martinez, who played with the Indians from 2002-09, struggled over the past three seasons, and last year, things took a turn for the worse when he twice went on the disabled list because of an irregular heartbeat. He eventually had a surgical procedure to correct that, and he’s back now to try to contribute however he can to a rebuilding Detroit team.

Martinez is in the final year of his contract with Detroit. He did not say whether he expects this to be his final season, period, although he did indicate that he takes a wait-and-see approach.

Whenever his career ends, Martinez will have quite a resume to look back on. He enters this season with a career .298 average and 237 home runs. He finished second to Mike Trout in the 2014 American League MVP race an impressive accomplishment for a DH. That season, Martinez set career highs with a .335 average and 32 home runs, leading Detroit to its fourth straight AL Central title.

The Tigers gave Martinez a $68 million, fouryear deal after that season, but they haven’t made the playoffs since. Martinez struggled to a .245 average in 2015 before bouncing back (.289, 27 HR) in 2016. Then last year, he hit .255 with 10 home runs in 107 games and the concerns about his offensive numbers were nothing compared to the health issues he ended up facing.

Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire says the team will look out for Martinez’s health. J.D. MARTINEZ, RED SOX AGREE TO DEAL » J.D. Martinez and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $110 million, five-year contract. The agreement is subject to a successful physical.

The 30-year-old hit .303 with 45 homers and 104 RBI last year for Detroit and Arizona, which acquired him on July 18 for three prospects. He had 29 homers and 65 RBI in 62 games with the Diamondbacks, and hit a record-tying four home runs in a game.

Martinez figures to become the primary designated hitter for the AL East champion Red Sox, which would turn Hanley Ramirez into a platoon player at first with Mitch Moreland.

College basketball

VIRGINIA REMAINS AT THE TOP IN AP POLL » Virginia strengthened its hold on No. 1 in the AP Top 25 as it coasts to an Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title, while Duke made a big jump after a pair of impressive wins without its top freshman.

The Cavaliers earned 42 of 65 first-place votes in the poll released Monday. That’s 12 more than last week, when they reached No. 1 for the first time since the Ralph Sampson era.

The top four remained unchanged, with No. 2 Michigan State earning 19 first-place votes after rallying from 27 down to beat Northwestern. Third-ranked Villanova got the other four first-place votes after winning at No. 4 Xavier. And Duke jumped seven spots to No. 5 after beating Virginia Tech and Clemson.

CLEVELAND STATE FALLS TO WRIGHT STATE » Grant Benzinger had a game-high 20 points and Wright State beat visiting Cleveland State, 72-63, on Feb. 19.

Bobby Word led Cleveland State (8-22, 5-12 Horizon) with 18 points.