Report: J.D. Martinez Will Stay With Red Sox For 2020, Will Not Opt Out Of Contract
BOSTON (CBS) -- J.D. Martinez is sticking around.
The MVP talent faced a deadline Monday which forced him to choose whether to stay with the Red Sox or opt out and become a free agent. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan and MLB Network's Jon Heyman, Martinez has chosen to stay with the team -- for now.
BREAKING: J.D. Martinez will not opt out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 4, 2019
By remaining with the Red Sox, Martinez can earn $62.5M over the next three years. He also has an opt-out clause after the 2020 season.
JD is not opting out of Boston deal
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 4, 2019
While the news is positive for Boston in the moment, Martinez will have the option to opt out once again after the upcoming season.
Martinez signed a five-year, $110 million deal with Boston prior to the 2018 season. He's since put together two All-Star seasons, winning two Silver Slugger Awards in 2018 and also finishing fourth in MVP voting while helping the Red Sox to a World Series title. This past season, his batting average dipped to .304 but he still maintained a .939 OPS while belting 36 home runs and 33 doubles while driving in 105 runs.
What comes next for the Red Sox will be fascinating. They have said they're shedding payroll. But who? Where? Would they really trade Mookie Betts, a legitimate franchise player and homegrown one at that?
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 4, 2019
Also on the J.D. Martinez decision to stay with the Red Sox: @JonHeyman.
Martinez is due to make $23.75 million in 2020, after which he can stay with the Red Sox for roughly $19.4 million per year in 2021 or 2022, or he can opt out and become a free agent.
Martinez's decision adds some clarity to the work that lies ahead for new Red Sox chief baseball officer, Chaim Bloom. The Boston Globe's Alex Speier noted on Twitter that Martinez's decision to stick with the Red Sox would not necessarily mean that the Red Sox might not end up trading him.
Worth noting: Amidst speculation that this could push the Sox to trade Mookie Betts, while they'll surely at least examine the market for Betts, they'll just as surely do the same with Martinez.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) November 4, 2019
Mookie Betts is entering his final season under Red Sox control, and it's expected that he will command a record-setting contract on the open market after the 2020 season. With Bloom preaching the merits of sustainability at his introductory press conference, it's unclear if the Red Sox would be willing to have both Martinez and Betts on the payroll with top-of-the-market salaries.