Designated hitter/outfielder J.D. Martinez has reportedly decided not to opt-out of the final year of his contract with the Boston Red Sox. David J. Phillip/Associated Press
J.D. Martinez decided not to opt out of the last year of his contract with the Red Sox, according to MLB Network.
Martinez is due to make $19.375 million in 2022. It’s the final year of his five-year, $110-million contract he signed before the 2018 season.
There was speculation from around in the industry, including by Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, that Martinez would opt out and test free agency at 34 years old, the same age Nelson Cruz was when he scored a four-year, $57 million deal with the Mariners. But with lingering uncertainty around a new collective bargaining agreement, it appears Martinez wanted the security of a guaranteed deal in 2022.
Kyle Schwarber declined his mutual option earlier in the week and will test free agency. The Sox have made it clear they thought Schwarber was a perfect fit in Boston, and it’ll be interesting to see if they’re willing to pay the market price for Schwarber if they also have Martinez on the roster.
The Red Sox declined options for pitchers Garrett Richards ($10 million, $1.5 million buyout) and Martin Perez ($6 million, $500,000 buyout), as first reported by MassLive.com and the Boston Globe, respectively. But the team exercised its option on catcher Christian Vázquez, who will return next season and play for $7 million.
Vázquez, who turned 31 on Aug. 21, has said he wants to finish his career with the Red Sox.
Richards looked good as a starter for two months until the rules around sticky substances were altered midseason. He had a 7.15 ERA in his final 10 starts before he was moved to the bullpen. The 33-year-old flourished temporarily in a relief role, but faded down the stretch and finished with a 3.42 ERA as a reliever.
Perez was an adequate fifth starter for much of the season and finished with a 4.74 ERA over 114 innings.
• The Red Sox extended free agent Eduardo Rodriguez a one-year qualifying offer for $18.4 million.
The left-handed starting pitcher has until Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. to accept or reject it.
Rodriguez earned $8.3 million in 2021.
The Red Sox will receive draft pick compensation if Rodriguez rejects the offer and signs with another organization.
Rodriguez, 28, went 13-8 with a 4.74 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 3.32 FIP in 32 outings (31 starts) during the 2021 regular season. Opponents batted .277 against him. He averaged 10.6 strikeouts and 2.7 walks per nine innings (1572/3 innings).
Rodriguez returned in 2021 after not pitching during 2020 because of myocarditis, or heart inflammation, likely caused by COVID.
QUALIFYING OFFERS: The Los Angeles Dodgers extended qualifying offers to free agent All-Stars Corey Seager and Chris Taylor, but not Clayton Kershaw.
Seager and Taylor were among 14 players offered $18.4 million, one-year qualifying offer deals before the deadline. If players reject those offers and sign with another club, their former team is entitled to draft pick compensation.
Kershaw has spent his entire 14-year career with Los Angeles, winning three Cy Young Awards and the 2020 World Series with the Dodgers. He was 10-8 with a 3.55 ERA in 22 regular season starts but missed the postseason due to a left forearm injury that is not expected to require surgery.
Atlanta slugger Freddie Freeman received a qualifying offer from the World Series-winning Braves, while the AL champion Houston Astros extended offers to shortstop Carlos Correa and right-hander Justin Verlander. The latter missed all of 2021 following Tommy John surgery, but the 38-year-old hopes to return next season.
The New York Mets announced Saturday that outfielder Michael Conforto and righty Noah Syndergaard were offered QOs. The Toronto Blue Jays were the only other team with multiple qualifying offers, made to left-hander Robbie Ray and infielder Marcus Semien.
CUBS: Chicago exercised its $10 million option for left-hander Wade Miley.
It had been expected since the team claimed Miley off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.
Miley, who turns 35 on Saturday, went 12-7 with a 3.37 ERA in 28 starts for Cincinnati this season. He threw his first career no-hitter in a 3-0 win at Cleveland on May 7.
If Chicago had not picked up Miley’s option, it would have owed him a $1 million buyout.
The Cubs are looking for pitching help after going 71-91 this year for their first losing record since 2014. They finished with a 4.87 ERA, ranking 27th in the majors.
Miley is 97-92 with a 4.15 ERA in 11 years in the majors. He also has played for Arizona, Boston, Seattle, Baltimore, Milwaukee and Houston.
GOLD GLOVE AWARDS: St. Louis became the first team with five Gold Glove winners when first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, second baseman Tommy Edman, third baseman Nolan Arenado, center fielder Harrison Bader and left fielder Tyler O’Neill earned the NL fielding honor Sunday.
Arenado won his ninth Gold Glove, his first since he was traded last winter by Colorardo. Goldschmidt won his fourth, and first since 2017 with Arizona. O’Neill won his second in a row.
Chicago White Sox pitcher Dallas Keuchel won his fifth Gold Glove, and San Francisco shortstop Brandon Crawford won his fourth.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
