Boston Red Sox: Six steps for a perfect 2020-2021 offseason
By Sean Penney
Red Sox offseason plan Step 2: Restructure J.D. Martinez contract
The next step is restructuring the contract of J.D. Martinez. He has an opt-out clause that he’s unlikely to exercise in the wake of a disappointing season with uncertain market conditions for a veteran DH.
If Martinez opts-in, he’ll be owed $19.35 million in each of the next two seasons but count for $22 million against the tax. As long as the Red Sox are convinced that his struggles at the plate were the result of an unprecedented season that drastically altered his routine, they should try to convince him to opt-out in order to sign a longer deal to remain in Boston.
A 4-year, $68 million deal locks in two more years and more guaranteed money for Martinez. He would be taking a slight pay cut down to $17 million in each of the next two seasons but that’s probably more than he’d earn on his next deal if he waited until he’s 35 years old to test free agency.
For comparison, Nelson Cruz has won three Silver Slugger awards as a DH after turning 34 but hasn’t been paid more than $14.25 million in any of those seasons. In this market, it’s hard to imagine Martinez getting much more than that per year at a similar age.
Under the structure of this new deal, the Red Sox would save $5 million against the tax in 2021, pushing their available space beneath the threshold to around $50 million.