The Red Sox are not planning to extend a qualifying offer to veteran slugger J.D. Martinez, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman’s report comes at what may be the beginning of an offseason of transition in Boston. With Xander Bogaerts’ opt-out clause looming and extension talks with Rafael Devers having yet to yield any results, Martinez could be one of multiple all-stars whose time in Boston may soon come to an end.
Martinez, age 35, is coming off of his fifth season with Boston, during which he played 139 games and slashed .274/.341/.448. Though Martinez rated as a well above average offensive player by wRC+ (119), his 16 2022 home runs are his fewest in a season since 2013. 2022 was also the first season in Martinez’s career that the five-time all-star did not log a single inning at a defensive position, as Alex Cora used him exclusively as a designated hitter. Martinez ought to have no problem finding employment next season, however. He has been one of the most consistent and productive hitters over the last decade, averaging 26 home runs and a .293 average since 2013.
MLBTR ranks Martinez as the best full-time DH available this offseason. He will headline a DH-class that includes other options such as Matt Carpenter and Nelson Cruz. Full-time DH’s have reduced earning power compared to other free agents due to their limited defense. The market for this player prototype has the potential to appeal any club looking for a discounted injection of offense without shuffling their defensive alignment. Assured production is paramount when a team decides to commit substantial resources to an offense-only player. Out of the three, Martinez is by far the surest bet. The contrast of Carpenter’s herculean summer with the Yankees and his paltry 2019-2021 leaves uncertainty about in his ability to produce going forward. Carpenter does have the ability to play some defense, however, having lined up at all four corner positions in 2022. Cruz looked ageless until last season, when he experienced substantial drops in hard-contact rate and exit velocity in the midst of his worst offensive season ever as a big league regular.
As the market’s best full-time DH, there ought to be plenty of teams looking to add some thump to their lineup that will consider signing Martinez. Logical suitors may theoretically include the Diamondbacks, who are looking for a right-handed bat, per Heyman, and the Marlins, who plan to address their weak offense this offseason. That being said, any team that may be inclined to add a full-time DH figures to have interest in Martinez on a one or two-year deal with an AAV below the qualifying offer worth $19.65 MM.
It is also possible that Martinez winds up back with Boston, despite the fact that the Red Sox are not planning to extend him a qualifying offer. Chaim Bloom’s decision to not tie draft pick compensation to Martinez’s free agency is likely to be rooted in the Sox’ evaluation of what Martinez could be worth in 2023, as opposed to whether or not they he would like to keep him on Boston’s roster. Martinez has been well worth the 5-year, $110MM deal he signed with the Red Sox in the 2017-2018 offseason and has given every indication that he can still be a productive DH. If Martinez does not receive a qualifying offer, it would indicate Bloom’s unwillingness to pay a full-time DH, albeit a productive one, a salary of $19.65 MM. It could also signify Bloom’s desire to provide consistent opportunity for some of Boston’s core of young first baseman/DH types, like Bobby Dalbec and Triston Casas. They also have Eric Hosmer on the roster, though it’s unclear how committed they are to him. With the Padres paying down the majority of his contract, Boston is only on the hook for the league minimum salary and could cut ties if they found options they liked better.
In a postgame interview with NESN’s Jahmai Webster on October 6, Martinez expressed gratitude to his teammates and to Boston fans for their support, adding that he’ll “see what happens” in free agency (via Twitter). If he does wind up back with the Red Sox, it will be interesting to see how close Martinez’s new salary will come to the $19.65 MM figure that the Boston appears unlikely to offer him.
Idk, feels like an emotion based deal
aj – Not sure what you mean by deal, but IMO he will sign somewhere for 2 years and at least $30M so I think not extending a QO was a mistake. Unless there’s some medical issues that we are not aware of.
Either way, I really enjoyed JD’s time in Boston. He’s a class act who put up some monster numbers in 2018-2019, his signing was one of Dombrowski’s greatest accomplishments. If he does sign elsewhere I hope it’s out of the division.
What you just mentioned is why they aren’t offering the QO, you feel he is worth 15 millions a year which is maybe what his market will be, so why wouldn’t he take the 19.8 million in one season? The QO is meant for teams to recoup a draft pick, not be worried about the player actually accepting it. If the Sox offered the QO JD accepts it and saddles the Red Sox with him under contract at damn near 20 million.
Rumors – JD would not choose a QO over a 2-year $30M contract, especially with the likely incentives/options tacked onto it.
I did until the trade deadline, then he sounded like a big baby.
The emotion is not having to regret offering it to him when he accepts it because it is very unlikely he would get $19 million on the open market
J.D. was one of the most dangerous hitters I have ever seen at one point. Like Altuve but a 1/2 foot taller.
Speaking of Altuve, he doesn’t seem to hit so well in the postseason without digital assistance….. he’s like 2/30.
Fine with me Clip. I called Philly in 5 or 6 anyway. All the better for the cause.
Astros are trying to get runs by getting hit by pitches.
Yeah, that actually could’ve been called a strike when Peña stuck his arm over the plate. I’m glad the ump called that a no-HBP.
Castellanos made a phenomenal play.
It’s just ironic because they cheated in 2017 and this is a different year and they want us to forget but they’re basically cheating again.
I’m a Red Sox fan and I was literally hoping the Yankees beat them. Didn’t like either team but at least the Yankees don’t show they cheat like that.
Should have been called an automatic strike. Hoping MLB cracks down on just letting the ball hit you. Watching Rizzo crowd the plate makes me sick. Many balls that hit him are cutting back over. If Gibson or Pedro were playing today, players would think twice.
I missed Peña doing that. Díaz got a no-HBP call in a critical situation. Even the Houston radio announcers agreed with the call.
Trumbo – Philly winning is statistically impossible.
Houston’s combined WAR is 54.2 and Philly’s is only 42.4 so Philly isn’t nearly as good as Houston.
All that matters is WAR, right? That’s what others here such as JB have told me anyway. Heheheheh …. ;O)
pwndroia – I can’t say I was rooting for the Yankees in the ALCS, but I do feel bad for 2017. They should have made the WS that year and Judge should have won MVP.
Then again, who knows … maybe the Sox get to the WS in 2017 if the Astros don’t cheat.
I’ m not really pulling for either team. I just hope the rest of the series is as good as game one. But I do think the Astros are the best team in bb, far better than the Yankees who showed that a hot start means nothing.
As opposed to figuratively hoping for the Yankees to beat them?
Cheating has been going on for more than a hundred years but wasn’t done electronically or with the assistance of a garbage can.
explain
Oh please. Rizzo does the same things on any pitch close to him. He’s just less overt about it. But at least half the HBP Rizzo gets credited with should simply be called a ball and the AB continued.
@Fever Pitch Guy it wasn’t so much rooting for the Yankees, it was more rooting against the Astros.
pwndroia – I understand, but it’s literally impossible to root against one team without rooting for the other. LOL!
There are two season for the RS fans. The first is rooting for the RS, until/i/when they are out of it. And then the second season is rooting against the NYY, if they are still in.
Castellanos came up as a 3rd baseman in Detroit.
His “bad rap” on Defense is exaggerated , in my opinion.
JD Martinez would be a great fit on many teams:
Padres, Giants, Tigers, Rays, Mariners, Indians etc…
Any team looking to add depth and thump to their lineup would benefit form JDM’s big bat.
The Yankees and Red Sox were also mentioned prominently in the Commissioner’s report on sign stealing.
Both Red Sox and Yankees used their video and film rooms and equipment to decode stolen signs, according to the final report.
The Astros were made “scapegoats” when the Red Sox and the Yankees share equal or greater blame. The Red Sox and Yankees had been documented as stealing signs a lot longer than the Astros.
Those are the known facts acknowledged by MLB.
So, hating on the Astros seems to be “sour grapes”
The Astros, top to bottom, just had the best team and the best players in 2017 and would have won it with or without the sign stealing.
Get Over it!
And, I am not an Astros fan!
It went to GM 7, so I disagree on the outcome. Nonetheless, Yankees were only reported to have been stealing over the 15-16 seasons. What they did was not what the Astros did.
Astros implemented a much more detailed, and more notably illegal, sign stealing system. That’s why they were investigated. Not to be a scapegoat.
I said the Astros were the better team this year… in 2017 they were not. They barely beat the Yanks with real-time pitch notifications. That’s a substantial and unequalled advantage.
Most people have moved past, but that’s impossible when talking about the postseason numbers of these Astros players. Those numbers are skewed.
okay now do the regular season
Darkside, You still never explained why you were a Trout hater. Was hoping you would someday soon.
No one ever hit in the post season with electronic sign stealing. Well, except maybe the Yankees in 2015-2016.
Well, the Astros did, the Yanks did not electronically steal signs to hit. They were relayed from the dugout to a runner on base. It was not anywhere near the same thing. And, obviously it was not nearly as successful.
Delusional much? The Yankees are the origin of the system that the Astros used. Came with Beltran. The only difference was trash can vs signals to the batter from a coach in the dugout.
No team could use it on the road and after September 2017 no team could use it in the playoffs. That means the only team that might have used it in the playoffs was the Yankees.
Delusional? It’s literally what was reported. I never said it didn’t come with Beltran, but nobody has said that system originated in the Yankees. Many teams could have employed sign stealing.
It’s besides the point though. Yankees were stealing in 2016! Astros cheated, in violation of the mandate, and with a much more in-depth top-down system in 2017, which is their championship season. And, there were accusations that it continued through 2019. Players from multiple teams complained and they counted the cheated in 2017. I believe 2019’was the Year of the Buzzer. D-Rob was very outspoken about the Astros cheating and their hitting against him in 2017 postseason…. So were many others.
It’s indisputable, Pads. Yankees:2016, Astros: 2017.
It was never possible for Altuve, or any other player, to have access to electronic sign stealing in his post season career. For sake of argument I have taken out the 2017 season, since that is the one season that the Astros were able to steal signs at home during the regular season.
Altuve in the post season 2018-2022 not including his 3 for 4 tonight.
70 for 262. .267 BA /.345 OBP /.504 SLG / .849 OPS
Watch Nick C in the WS. JDM worked with him well and he looks like a clone at the plate.
Will dew Dewey!
I’d rather the Yankees sign Martinez to a 2 or 3 year deal instead of signing Judge to a 9 year deal. JD won’t cripple the team’s payroll
Yep. The Yankees can’t afford a contract for Judge down the road. Not to mention it’s only a slight step down in performance from a MVP outfielder to a 15 homer DH. /s
Judge will be great for 2 more seasons. Paying him 45m for the next decade not a wise choice by any GM
Even big market teams will be thinking twice if this turns into a long recession.
If the Yankees “can’t afford” Judge “down the road,” then who can? The Dodgers?
That’s just what the Dodgers need, another 300+mm player. They’ll win 120 games and still do nothing in the PO.
And you won’t go to the playoffs next year if that happens. Replacing 75% of your offense with a guy on the dramatic decline.
Correct. But making the playoffs and having the best and highest paid player going 1 for 16 with 4 strikeouts and batting .063 won’t help them should they make the playoffs
It’s not that a big market team won’t spend. The question is with the bucks you’re willing to spend, are there better overall uses now and forecasting down the road (thinking about internal raises and call ups).
They COULD afford Judge, the problem is the insane deal they gave to Gerrit Cole.
And are still paying for Stanton. Every team looks at payroll and projected revenues. Some teams are likely still struggling from the pandemic. Now a recession is here or likely coming. What future web deals are likely given the big decline in Internet advertising?
pwndroia – Cole isn’t even the Yank’s best SP.
Cortes is.
Some pitchers thrive in the postseason (Lester, Schilling, etc). Cole doesn’t.
I’m not saying Cole is the best, just saying they wasted a ton of money on him and for the Stanton trade. Signing Judge will cripple their future.
Want a masher sign Jose Abreu for three years.
Abreau’s numbers were down this year. First time in years he have at least 100 rbi. Vaughn led the team in hr (17) and rbi and he didn’t play in as many games as Abreau. He hit over 300 but he was terrible with RISP. When they batted him third and put Eloy at the cleanup spot, the team’s offense was better (such as it was).
JD isn’t worth $19M a year. He’s a $10-$12M bat only player.
If he could play a reasonable first base he’d be worth more.
Disagree. He showed at the end of the year he’s still productive. His training and clubhouse attitude to me makes him important and I’m thinking $14m x 2 with a $4m team buyout so he’s guaranteed $18m for 23.
dave – When he’s healthy he’s not a bad OF’er.
Fever, for the bucks being paid, players are sometimes babied. In JDM’s case I was for him playing 50 games in the field but as one ages, the injuries mount and take longer to recover from. Given his back history, JDM should only DH going forward.
dewey – I agree, his back is likely the reason for the second-half drop in productivity each of the past two seasons.
I don’t think he’s declined, just had a bad season. Also to note is he raked with doubles I believe- now how many of those doubles were close to homeruns? Some numbers and luck may not be in his favor but I bet he will be better in 2023.
Has Texas rangers written all over him
Why
In between getting released from the idiot Astros and not being offered a qualifier he’s has a nice career. He’s made over 150 million and although that’s still middle class, he can still continue to live a modest life.
He’s made $130m but he’ll undoubtedly be over $150m soon
He’s only actually made $118M and will likely top out at around $125M to $160M before he retires (I am assuming in a best case scenario for him, he’d get a 1 year/$8M deal in 2023, if he doesn’t bounce back that may be it for him, but if he did bounce back to a 2.0 WAR or better player, he might get another 2 years/$32M and then probably retire at 38 years old)
Trill – You seem to be a numbers guy, so you probably already know JD put up an .849 OPS the first half of this season and a .926 OPS the second half of the season.
So I don’t think he’s suddenly “lost it”. I think his second-half declines are health related, which means if he can stay healthy he would definitely be a strong rebound candidate.
Whoops … I meant to say he put up a .926 OPS the first half of the 2021 season, my bad.
In the short term, pay less attention to OPS and more attention to HRs and K/W. HR/FB is more important than just HRs, but that information is not as readily available.
The .849 in the first half of the season was largely driven by a BABP of .382. His .701 in the 2nd half was largely driven by a .289.. His overall .790 is about right.
He would be a good fit in the Orioles lineup
I could see that happening.. Orioles will be spending but do they want to give up a DH slot when they have a lot of young talent?
Well the talent is still developing
And they need a veteran bat
They don’t need bats, they need arms. They tried the “sign nothing but home run hitters” thing for over a decade with disastrous results.
JD is 35 but a solid bat
The Orioles can afford him and he is a fit
Things are “unclear” in Boston – agreed.
Things were never clear since Bloom came. The guy knows what he wants but he keeps his plans to himself.
1.1 WAR, diminished power, diminished BA, turning 35 years old, no longer much defensive value… and to think that a couple of years ago he was in a prime position to opt out and get a new deal for a higher AAV and a year tacked on. He accepted 3 years/$47.5M over what probably could have been 4 years/$74.3M or more (I’m factoring in the pandemic shortened pro-rated season of 62 games) and now he might barely get a deal somewhere at all and probably only for around $8M or so at best.
Don’t get me wrong- he’s got one of those great baseball stories where at one point his career looked like it might fizzle out and then he figured something out at the plate and became a great enough power hitter with a high average that he got that $110M deal, which is absolutely lifelong, life changing money, but man, he still left around $25-30M and an extra guaranteed season at over 8-figures on the table by not opting out.
He’s still made $118,421,096 playing professionally. Not a bad career financially, at all, but could’ve been significantly more with another year or more still to go at top dollar and now he may settle for much less.
He could bounce back. Not sure he will hit his prime but it was a down year and he will certainly get a pay cut. A team will take a chance on him.
I’m surprised you didn’t say “he should retire”.
This was always a slam dunk.. Someone sign him for maybe $26M/2.
Now I have to check to see if Fever Pitch formally accepted my wager.
Joe – Which wager is that? I never agreed to your proposed wager when you said the Sox would make the postseason by passing either Toronto or TB.
Good thing for you I didn’t accept, eh? ;O)
You had offered to take the wager that JD would get a QO, and I accepted, but never saw you confirm. No confirmation, no bet.
So this evens us up on our imaginary bets.
Joe – I’ve often said I don’t do wagers, so it would be surprising to me if I did accept any bet.
If you can find my post, I’d be interested in reading it so I can see what I wrote and the context. My gut is that I said the Sox would extend a QO if he remained healthy, which he clearly did not.
Then why didn’t they trade him? Red Sox got stuck in the middle so bad
Diminished power, diminished BA, not much defensive value? A lock to end up with the wsox.
My guess is they didn’t like what was being offered and figured they’d hold him on the hopes of slipping into the final WC slot.
JD’s remaining contract at the deadline was $6,500,000, and with the diminished power and sizable contract for only two months, the prospects offered may not have been worth trading for. The other reason may have been that the Red Sox did not want to kick in cash to obtain a better prospect.
If I were GM, I would have traded him for whatever they could get.
My guess is that we’d have gotten some payroll relief, and maybe a lottery ticket. In his 6/17-7/31 period, he had a .520 OPS.
Arizona : Hitters ball park. Low payroll. Needed somewhat badly ; right handed.
Would love to see “Just Dingers” back in Arizona.
Would love to see “Just Dingers” back in Arizona, Ghost.
JD was a good signing. Thanks for the memories but it’s time to move on.
Now shove Dever’s 300 mils ask down his agents throat by naming him the DH
The Mets can use JD Mart or Jose Abreu as their DH next year
Even if the Red Sox don’t believe Martinez is worth that much on a one year deal, it doesn’t matter if Martinez himself thinks he could do better. How likely is it that Martinez would actually accept the Qualifying Offer if it was given to him?
Then again, there’s still some risk that he might take it, and the Red Sox may feel that they want to avoid absolutely any chance of him accepting it.
I’m pretty sure he’d have taken it. At 35, the best he could hope for is 2 years, and that is not a lock. How many teams are going to offer something more attractive than $19.65M/1 AND give up a draft pick?
Joe – Okay now THIS is something I’d make a non-wager on. Wile the draft pick obviously is no longer in play, I would be shocked if he doesn’t get at least $30M guaranteed over 2 years.
This trade deadline was a disaster. Should have traded Nate, JD & Xander as well as every other player not signed in 2023. Stupid…smart not to give JD a QO but why did we hold on to him? Very dumb…They best spend to gut NY of Judge, sign Raffy & get deGrom as well. Bogey doesn’t fit where Boston needs to go. Start Arroyo on a 5 yr 12 million contract and play.him full time at 2b. Fix the bullpen
This should not be this complicated nor difficult…it’s a business…make business decisions C.Bloome
JD was horrible going into the trade deadline. Eovaldi had just come off the IL, and had a 11.08 ERA in three July starts, with only 8 Ks. My guess is that I think most teams would’ve thought we were showcasing him, but that he was still injured.
I don’t think we’d have gotten much but salary relief.
That said, I’d have also given some thought to a full-scale trade-off, including Bogaerts & Devers. That said, we were only 3.5 out of a WC slot, so I’m not bothered that we went for it.
The Yankees are not letting Judge walk unless they feel they can get Ohtani coming up and need to clear some salary because Hal does not spend like George did. Still the only way the Yankees lose Judge is if they decide the money is better spent on Ohtani later. Ohtani is about to land the biggest contract in baseball history, either in an extension or next season….
By next season I meant 2024
If all it is going to cost is 2 years at around $30 million many teams will be be interested in Martinez.
Pour one out for JD. A true pro every second he played for the Red Sox.
Swing, batter, batter….
I rather move on a year or two early than a year or two late. JD has been great for the Red Sox but he is 35 so it’s time to slide Devers over to DH and look at 3B. Maybe let Dalbec play 3B and call up Triston Casas to play first. Or find a veteran and let Dalbec backup 1st, 3rd, and DH to get at bats. Another idea is to just see if Casas can play 3rd during ST and keep Hosmer at first. In any scenario it’s time to see what Casas can do everyday.