MLB Rumors: J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox DH, will forego free agency and not opt out of his contract with Boston, per multiple reports. Martinez just finished the second year of a 5 year, $110 million deal that includes opt out clauses after 2019 and 2020.
Martinez is scheduled to make $23.75 million in his age 32 season in 2020, and is guaranteed $62.5 million from 2020-22 under his current deal. Martinez, who turned 32 in August, would have been one of the top hitters on the market this offseason, but there has been a decline in demand for righthanded hitting bat-only guys, leading to speculation that he would choose to stay in Boston for the time being.