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Tigers' Martinez to miss 3-4 weeks with foot injury

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Detroit Tigers will be without one of its top outfielders - and most potent bats - for an extended period of time.

J.D. Martinez was diagnosed with a foot sprain earlier in the week. The injury will sideline him for three-to-four weeks, and he will spend 7-10 days with a cast on his foot, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus downplayed the severity of the injury and its pending impact on the team.

"There's no question our lineup is better with J.D. in it. We'll deal with it," Ausmus said. "And if you think about it, three-to-four weeks from today, 10 days of it are going to be while we're still here (in Spring Training)."

The announcement comes only two days after Martinez told the Detroit Free Press that he still hoped to play on Opening Day.

Without Martinez, the Tigers are expected to feature an outfield of Justin Upton, Tyler Collins, and Alex Presley to start the season. Mikie Mahtook and Steven Moya are options off the bench, and 24-year-old JaCoby Jones could also be called up.

Martinez is entering the final season of a two-year, $18.5-million deal he inked with the Tigers prior to 2016. He's realized his power potential over three seasons in Detroit, batting a cumulative .299 with 83 home runs and 246 RBIs. He made his only All-Star appearance in 2015, when he hit 38 home runs.

With first baseman Miguel Cabrera already dealing with a back injury, putting his own Opening Day status in doubt, the Tigers are staring at a depleted lineup to start the season.

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