J.D. Martinez not opting out, per reports

MLB Rumors: J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox DH, is not opting out of his current contract, per reports. Opting out would have resulted in him becoming a free agent. The deadline for that decision is today at 4 p.m. Central.

Martinez, 34, is entering the final year of a 5 year, $110 million deal he signed with Boston prior to the 2018 season. That deal included three opt outs, none of which Martinez will have ended up exercising.

Martinez is under contract for $19.375M in 2022, and if he had opted out Boston likely would have tendered him with a qualifying offer, which would result in a pay cut if he accepted it. Having put up an 816 OPS since the start of 2020 and being limited to DH, Martinez’s market was potentially restricted, particularly if he would be subject to draft pick compensation from a signing team under the new CBA and if there were no universal DH in the 2022 season.

So Martinez is taking the safe route, getting his guaranteed payday, and can test the free agent waters after 2022.