He instead will return for a third season, earning another $23.75 million before facing another opt-out opportunity next winter. His five-year, $110-million contract has been, thus far, a win-win for both player and organization. Martinez has solidified his status as one of the game's elite hitters, while the Red Sox have won a championship and embraced a Martinez-driven culture of mechanics and analytics. It's been an ideal fit.
But in September ownership declared its desire to trim payroll and improve player development, and trading Martinez would be an opportunity to do both. ...
If he were significantly underpaid, Martinez surely would have opted for free agency, so there's not a lot of excess value in his contract. Any team acquiring him would have to acknowledge the fact he could walk away after a year, so it would need to be a contender, and that team would also have to recognize his defensive limitations, which means the American League is the most natural fit. ...
Just a few hours ago, it seemed the Red Sox could lose Martinez and get nothing in return. Indeed, the team would have owed him a $2.5-million buyout. Now, the Red Sox can explore their options. Even a modest return would better than the opt-out.
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November 4, 2019
J.D. Martinez Will Not Exercise His Opt-Out Clause (He Could Also Opt Out After 2020)
J.D. Martinez informed the Red Sox this afternoon that he will not opt out of his current contract, Chad Jennings of The Athletic reports:
Scott Boras: "J.D. has advised me that his decision is about assuring that he plays for a competitive team and wanting to continue to play in a place where he knows that he can be highly productive."
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see what Bloom does in response to this. If the intent is to keep Mookie, then do they try to move Price and/or Eovaldi? JBJ is another potential piece of trade bait. The ONLY way you send Mookie elsewhere is if there is the promise of high draft picks and/or some guaranteed talent (think Juan Soto).
ReplyDeleteGetting back as productive a hitter as Martinez is a good thing, until you realize he has defensive shortcomings. Thus, will it cost Boston a 5-tool talent like Betts? Arguably, Betts is the best player in the league (apologies to Mike Trout). I live and root with my heart, so I would move heaven and earth to keep Betts in Sox forever. However, if Boston is truly intent on trimming payroll, someone's got to go. Do they try to now trade Martinez? Price or Eovaldi?
ReplyDeleteIt would have been so much easier for Chaim Bloom had Martinez opted out. But it's hard to walk away from $23.75 mill guaranteed. He can opt out again after the 2020 season, but probably won't. He'll be 33 with no true defensive skill set, so I'm betting he sticks in Boston. Unless some team decides to take on one of the big contracts Bloom is stuck with, it will be a challenge to get under the $208 million penalty fee.
I'm new to this site, but not this team. Here's to hoping we have a very good winter.
I don't have an issue with JDM being a limit tools player if he can maintain a high OPS. If he gives us what Papi gave us, then I'm satisfied, and I'd argue that he is a better fielder than Ortiz. Honestly, if he stays here through the end of his current contract and he continues to produce, $62M is a BARGAIN in relative terms.
ReplyDeleteBetts should easily command a salary between what Harper ($27.6M per season) and Trout ($35.45M per season) received when they signed their latest contracts. My guess is that he should get between $32M and $35M. If the Red Sox can convince a team to take the last three seasons of Price's contract and also trade away JBJ, then I think they can meet that figure and still stay under the threshold.