The Detroit Tigers have officially shut down Victor Martinez for the remainder of 2012. Here's what Tigers' head athletic trainer Kevin Rand told James Schmehl of MLive.com.

"Victor has worked extremely hard to give himself a shot to play this year. Unfortunately, the leg strength wasn’t to a degree that we feel comfortable that the risk was worth the return."

Martinez tore his ACL in January and underwent the first of what was scheduled to be two knee surgeries later that month. The first procedure went so well, doctors determined he did not need the second surgery. There was originally speculation that, if everything went smoothly, Martinez could return at some point this season.

Last season, Martinez hit .330/.380/.470 with 12 home runs and 103 RBI. He played 112 games as a designated hitter, caught 26 games and played first base six games. The native of Venezuela will be 34-years-old at the start of next season, and his days of playing behind the dish seem likely to be behind him.

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Where should the Tigers play Martinez, Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera in 2013?

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