MLB Rumors: J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox deal done, per report

MLB Rumors: J.D. Martinez and the Boston Red Sox are getting close to a deal, according to Jon Heyman. Boston has been widely expected to sign the free agent LF/DH, and it seemed like something was going to happen as far back as November, but instead, the weeks dragged on with no deal materializing until, it appears, now.

The only other team seriously linked to Martinez was the Arizona Diamondbacks, who traded for Martinez at the deadline last year, and who saw Martinez go nuts in his two months in the desert, putting up a .302/.366/.741 slash line during his time in Arizona. Arizona seemed less likely than Boston to land Martinez, however, given that as a National League team, Arizona can’t use the poor-fielding Martinez at DH, and given that the Diamondbacks were reportedly going to have to get creative to find room in their budget for Martinez.

Martinez put up a 1066 OPS in 119 games overall last year between Detroit and Arizona, and has a .300/.362/.574 slash line since joining the Tigers in 2014 after having been released by the Houston Astros. We shall see what the final numbers for Martinez end up being, but I would wager we’ll see something with a 9 figure guarantee over 5-6 years, with the ever popular opt-out after year 3.

UPDATE — Pedro Gomez says the deal is done.

UPDATE II — Reports indicate that it is a five year deal for Martinez, with an opt-out after 2019.

UPDATE III — Jon Morosi says it is a 5 year, $110 million frontloaded deal. That would suggest something like $25 million per year in 2018 and 2019, and then $20 million per year from 2020-22, should Martinez not opt out.

UPDATE IV — Heyman says that there are two opt outs in the deal, and Martinez is getting $50 million in the first two years of the deal.