The Tigers may have lost Victor Martinez for the 2012 season:

Tigers catcher Victor Martinez could miss the season because of a torn ACL in his left knee, sustained last week while he was conditioning.

An MRI taken at the Watson Clinic in Lakeland, Fla., on Monday revealed the ACL tear. Martinez will be re-evaluated by Dr. Richard Stedman next week and surgery to repair the tear is anticipated. Martinez will most likely be lost for the 2012 season if surgery is required.

Martinez played a huge role in the Tigers 2011 offense, with a .380 OBP and a .470 slugging percentage. He was the third base hitter on the team behind Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila, and Detroit will need to replace three wins above replacement.

The good news is that Victor is mostly a designated hitter, and that type of player should be easier to replace, since all he needs to do is hit. If the Tigers sign Carlos Pena and move Miguel Cabrera to designated hitter, they might actually come out ahead on the deal.