Victor Martinez didn't like the way former Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus handled moving him down in the batting order last season. Martinez told the Free Press on Tuesday he has no issue with manager Ron Gardenhire's recent decision to replace him in the cleanup spot with Jeimer Candelario.
Gardenhire quietly made the switch to Candelario, a switch hitter with a team-high 10 home runs, in the cleanup spot over the weekend. Candelario remained fourth in the order on Tuesday when the Tigers opened a three-game series against the Twins at Comerica Park. Martinez is now batting fifth.