5-year deal reported for Martinez, Boston
J.D. Martinez and the Boston Red Sox have, at long last, come to an agreement.
The slow dance between the free-agent outfielder and the power-deficient team concluded Monday when they settled on a $110 million, five-year contract.
A person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press about the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity because it was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced. Martinez has the right to opt out of the contract early and become a free agent again.
Speculation that Martinez and the AL East champions would wind up together had been swirling ever since he became a free agent in November. Boston was seeking to add power to a lineup that hit an AL-low 168 home runs. Martinez, 30, has changed his swing to improve his launch angle and become one of the top home run threats in the majors.
The move helps the Red Sox counter the huge deal their biggest rivals pulled off in December. The Yankees, who finished two games behind Boston in the division last year, acquired NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton — who led the majors with 59 home runs — in a trade with Miami.
Martinez hit .303 with 45 homers and 104 RBIs last year for Detroit and Arizona, which acquired him July 18 for three prospects. He had 29 homers and 65 RBIs in 62 games with the Diamondbacks, and hit a record-tying four home runs in a game.
Martinez started 112 games in right field last year. He figures to become the primary designated hitter for the AL East champion Red Sox.
Martinez was among several prominent free agents still available over the weekend. Eric Hosmer is in the process of finalizing a $144 million, eight-year deal with San Diego. Third baseman Mike Moustakas and pitchers Jake Arrieta and Alex Cobb are among the name players looking for places to play. Briefly: The Diamondbacks announced that they had reached a deal with outfielder Jarrod Dyson for two years and $7.5 million . ... A source said the Nationals reached agreement on a one-year deal for $1 million with reliever Joaquin Benoit . ... A person familiar with the talks says pitcher Chris Tillman and the Orioles have agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract. Tillman was 1-7 with a 7.84 ERA in 19 starts and five relief outings last year. He would be the second starter added by Baltimore in the past week after right-hander Andrew Cashner . ... Alex Presley and the Orioles agreed to a minor-league contract.