Red Sox rumors: J.D. Martinez offered around five years, $100 million
The Boston Red Sox are rumored to have offered slugger J.D. Martinez a reported five-year, 100 million dollar deal.
With their American League East Division rivals, the New York Yankees, creating many degrees of separation, the Boston Red Sox are desperately attempting to keep pace. What better way to do so in offering J.D. Martinez a five-year deal, likely an offer he cannot refuse, if these Red Sox rumors are indeed correct.
Source: Boston's offer to J.D. Martinez is in the range of five years, $100 million.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 17, 2018
The Boston Red Sox are not messing around, knowing they need a power bat in the middle of their lineup. They finished in the bottom four in MLB home runs — a season in which an MLB record was set, collectively among all teams.
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J.D. Martinez upped the ante once the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired him from the Detroit Tigers — where he hit 29 home runs in only 62 games in Arizona. Somehow, Martinez was left off of the AL All-Star team in 2017, but was worthy of that, while finishing 14th in NL MVP voting in less than a half a season.
Last season he slashed .303/.376/.690, mashed a total of 45 home runs, 85 runs, and 104 RBI total with both squads. The past four years, Martinez has hit over .300, hovering around 30 long bombs and 100 RBI per season. He is worth every penny of the rumored $100 million the Red Sox could be sending his way.
However, earlier reports stated that his agent, Scott Boras, was seeking double that amount (surprise, surprise), so something has to give.
Teams that have reached out early on J.D. Martinez have gotten the impression Scott Boras is looking for something in the $200 million range.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) November 8, 2017
Martinez is considered by some MLB experts as a “defensive liability,” while injuries have indeed plagued him throughout his productive career. But, he makes up for it in spades with his ability to not only hit the long ball but find ways to get on base, and is a catalyst for run scoring production.
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Approaching his age-30 season, J.D. Martinez will continue to be productive for the next five seasons, which the Boston Red Sox will need to counter the loaded New York Yankees roster. Whether the amount is $100 million, $200 million, or 500 million Schrute bucks, the Red Sox need to pull the trigger and do so now.