Will the former Red Sox superstar hang up his cleats?
One former Boston Red Sox player will enter the free agent market this winter, facing an unclear future.
Former Red Sox standout J.D. Martinez spent the 2024 season with the New York Mets. Martinez played 120 games for the Mets, hitting 16 home runs, driving in 69 runs, and batting.235/.320/.406. Martinez’s numbers were clearly not what he had planned for at the end of the season, but he continued to play an important part for New York.
He was not only a good player, but also a valuable member of the clubhouse who helped teammates improve their hitting skills. Martinez is 37 years old and will be a free agent this winter, although he was named an All-Star in 2023 after hitting 33 home runs and driving in 103 runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It’s too early to tell what his next step will be this winter, but the Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham speculated that he could retire if he doesn’t get the appropriate deal.
“J.D. Martinez will be an interesting free agent,” Abraham said. “He is 37 and will be coming off a season that saw him post a .406 slugging percentage, by far his lowest in a full season since 2013, before he changed his entire approach at the plate. But his expected slugging percentage — which is based on the quality of contact — was .484. Martinez has made $154 million and had his first child during the season. He could walk away if the right offer doesn’t come his way, but he could be a good addition for a contender. Maybe he fits a team such as the (Texas Rangers)?”
Martinez appears to have more in the tank, although he is approaching the conclusion of his career. If he wants to continue playing, he should have a tremendous opportunity. If he does decide to retire, he has had an excellent career.
