J.D. Martinez could make huge mistake with Boston Red Sox

J.D. Martinez is going to have a decision to make this offseason. The Boston Red Sox designated hitter can theoretically opt out of the final year of his contract and enter free agency. If he did, he would leave $19.375 million on the table while looking for more guaranteed money and a longer term deal.

At first, this would seem to be an easy decision. No matter how well Martinez is playing, no one is going to hand a designated hitter that type of a contract. Nonetheless, he says that he is “right in the middle” about opting out of that final year.

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez could make huge mistake

Martinez has bounced back from a disappointing 2020 campaign. He is hitting as he had previously, posting a .285/.349/.516 batting line in his 612 plate appearances, hitting 27 homers and 40 doubles. That production, and his production since signing in Boston, has given the Red Sox the middle of the order presence they needed when David Ortiz retired.

In a vacuum, teams would be willing to pay for that type of production. Even though he is 34 years old already, his bat is not showing any signs of slowing down. As other aging sluggers such as Nelson Cruz had proven, their age may be just a number that has nothing to do with their bat speed.

The problem is that Martinez has not spent much time in the field defensively. Over the past three seasons, he has spent 47 games in left and 33 games in right. He has been solid defensively in left, saving four runs, but it is questionable as to whether or not he would hold up at the position over a full season.

That is the issue that he will face in free agency. It was already unlikely that he would see that type of a salary even if he was an everyday outfielder, but the fact that he spends most of his time as a designated hitter limits his potential earnings. With that being the case, it makes far more sense for Martinez to stay in Boston for 2022 and collect that impressive paycheck.

J.D. Martinez is considering opting out of his final year with the Boston Red Sox. Doing so would be a mistake for the aging slugger.