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Red Sox current price for JD Martinez might scare Mets away

By Gabrielle Starr

BOSTON, MA - JULY 10: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting a game tying two run home run during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees on July 10, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JULY 10: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting a game tying two run home run during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees on July 10, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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Red Sox reportedly eyeing Mets top prospect Mark Vientos in return for JD Martinez and/or Christian Vazquez

The Boston Red Sox are considering trading JD Martinez, but they won’t make it easy on his suitors. According to several reports, their asking price for the veteran slugger – an All-Star this year for the fourth time in the last five seasons (and there was no All-Star Game in 2020) – is quite high: a big-leaguer, a top-five prospect, and either an additional player or cash.

For the New York Mets, who are reportedly interested in Martinez and/or catcher Christian Vazquez, that might mean giving up Mark Vientos, one of their top slugging prospects. According to Andy Martino, the Sox liked Vientos in the past and brought him up in previous trade talks. Over 75 games at Triple-A Syracuse this season, the 22-year-old is hitting .267/.351/.524 with a .874 OPS, 11 doubles, 19 home runs, and 54 RBI. He has 44 home runs over his last 158 games across Double-A and Triple-A, and has proven to be clutch off the bench, blasting a first-pitch, pinch-hit homer on Saturday.

Vientos looks like a lot to give up for two regular-season months and a potential postseason run with Martinez or Vazquez. If he’s mashing at Triple-A, it’s fair to ask why the Mets don’t simply promote him to the big leagues, instead. That seems to be their fallback plan, and a pretty solid contingency, at that.

Of course, the Mets won’t be the Sox’ only suitors for Martinez. The three-time Silver Slugger is an impact bat most October hopefuls would love to add to their lineup. But Martinez must be happy that the asking price is so high, because he’s made it clear he wants to stay, even telling reporters on Sunday,

"“I want to make this as hard on Chaim as possible.”"

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