Martinez, Bosox agree to 5- year, $ 110M deal
J. D. Martinez and the Red Sox, at long last, came to an agreement Monday, when they settled on a five- year, $ 110 million contract.
The deal reportedly contains two chances for Martinez to opt out, after the second and third seasons. He’ll earn $ 50 million after two years and another $ 22 million in the third year.
Speculation that Martinez would wind up with the American League East champs had been swirling since he became a free agent in November. The Red Sox were seeking to add power to a lineup that hit an AL- low 168 home runs last season.
Martinez hit .303 with 45 homers and 104 RBI last year for the Tigers and Diamondbacks. He had 29 homers and 65 RBI in 62 games with the D- backs and hit a recordtying four homers in a game.
Harper won’t look ahead
Don’t bother asking Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper about his plans beyond this year.
“If you guys do talk anything about that, I’ll be walking right out the door,” he said.
Everyone knows Harper could be part of a huge free- agent class after the season. But if teams are saving money by passing on available players in hopes of signing a big star, that doesn’t sound like the best way to impress Harper.
“I think if I’m an organization or a team, I want the best players on my team,” Harper said. “My fans deserve that, the players deserve that.”
Giants, Watson finalize deal
Left- hander Tony Watson and the Giants finalized a two- year contract that includes a player option for 2020. The deal, which guarantees the former All- Star reliever $ 9million, could be worth $ 26 million over three years, including performance bonuses.
The 31- year- old was 7- 4 with a 3.38 ERA last year in 71 relief appearances for the Pirates and Dodgers, who acquired him July 31. He was 2- 1 with a 2.70 ERA in 24 regular- season games with the Dodgers, then 2- 0with a 2.57 ERA in 11 postseason games.
This and that
The Diamondbacks agreed to a two- year, $ 7.5 million deal with outfielder Jarrod Dyson. Dyson hit .251 and stole 28 bases for the Mariners last season with five home runs and 30 RBI in 111 games. He played all of his seven previous seasons with the Royals.
The Nationals and 40- yearold right- hander Joaquin Benoit agreed to a major- league contract that will pay him $ 1 million this season. Benoit first got to the big leagues in 2001, when he pitched in one game as a starter. He has gone on to make 764 career appearances, 709 out of the bullpen.