Red Sox Predictions: Five teams that should trade for J.D. Martinez

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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 31: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox at bat during a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 31, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

The Red Sox aren’t in a good position to hold onto both JD Martinez and Mookie Betts. Perhaps, a team will offer to take Martinez off Boston’s hands.

Common knowledge to the baseball world, J.D. Martinez has opted into his contract with the Boston Red Sox for 2020. Unfortunately for Boston, that stretches payroll very thin. With Martinez’s salary counting towards the payroll, that is $23.75 million more that the Chaim Bloom will have to shave to get under the luxury tax payroll.

Unfortunately for the Red Sox, that could mean dealing away Mookie Betts, who is set to make close to $27 million in 2020, per MLB Trade Rumors. But, what if there was another option? If Martinez chose free agency instead of opting in, there would surely be teams interested in his services.

So what if the Red Sox front office dangled Martinez in front of teams that would have been interested in him? This would do two things for Boston. One, a prospect or two would come back in a trade, beginning the reload of dry farm system. Two, it would cut $23.75 million from the payroll, opening up an avenue to sign Betts to an extension.

Here are five teams that could be interested if Martinez was placed on the trading block.

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