Is it decision time in Boston? Mookie Betts or JD Martinez? Who would you rather have. Well, it looks like the Red Sox are actually going to choose between the two. Martinez has the option to opt out of his contract after this season. Mookie Betts will enter the final season of his contract in 2020. Due to financial constraints, Boston will move on from at least one of them.
Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports that the Sox will move on from Martinez and or Betts after the season:
If you’re a Sox fan, I wouldn’t panic over this. Things can change in a heart beat. The Red Sox just fired Dave Dombrowski. Who knows what the new general manager will have up his sleeve. Maybe he wants to keep both and move money around in another way. Boston’s owner, John Henry, has a net worth of $2.7 Billion. He owns Liverpool FC and Fenway racing too. If he wants to keep both he has the cash to do so.
Keep in mind the Red Sox also have a ton of money coming off the books. Rick Porcello, Mitch Moreland, Steve Pearce, Brock Holt, Pablo Sandoval’s and Eduardo Nunez’s dead money get cleared. That’s a ton of money. Jackie Bradley could be another guy moved to save money who is in a contract year coming up. The Sox may trade Betts or Martinez. They also might not.
Honestly, I would be okay if the Sox trade Betts and they get a haul for him. Yes, he’s hitting .291/.389/.525 with 40 doubles, 27 home runs, 77 RBI, 128 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 665 plate appearances. I’m also not giving him Mike Trout money. If he doesn’t agree to a reasonable extension this offseason, see the door buddy. He’s also feeling himself too much.
What? Just shut your mouth, dude. You’re the face of the franchise. The Sox will give you a boatload of cash. If you want to take ever last dollar, go have fun with the Mets and have a shit team around you while never winning. If you want to be a legend in Boston, take 5 percent less and shut up. Yeah, it’s a business. The problem is you’re the one who keeps turning down extensions. The Sox want to pay you.
If it were me, I’d still rather trade JD. Martinez is a liabilit on defense and is an aging asset. Yes, he can still rake but at the age of 32, it’s fair to question how long he will be elite for. Going for a cheaper DH while upgrading defensive simultaneously makes more sense.
