Tigers’ Victor Martinez on DL with Irregular Heartbeat….again

Tigers’ DH Victor Martinez is on the disabled list again because of an irregular heartbeat.  Manager Brad Ausmus says Martinez experienced a racing in Saturday’s game in Chicago.  The 38 year old Martinez spent the night in a hospital and his heartbeat was regulated.   He was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.  Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can increase a person’s risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.

An article in the Detroit Free Press quotes Tiger's manager Brad Ausmus,

“You don’t mess around with the heart,” Ausmus said. “It’s just, obviously, something that we’re not talking about a sprained ankle or something minor like that. This is something you take very serious because it could be life-threatening and that’s what we’re going to do.”

There is a history of heart failure in Martinez’s family. His father died of a heart attack at age 66, when Victor was just a boy.

Martinez has one more year on a 4-year contract and will make $18 million next season.  Sources say the Tigers could be on the hook for that amount, even if Martinez is not medically fit to play.

The Tigers called up outfielder JaCoby Jones from Triple-A Toledo.