Former Red Sox Star Surprisingly Returning for Another Season

J.D. Martinez was a force for the Boston Red Sox in the late 2010s and even established himself as an MVP candidate during his time in Boston. On name recognition alone, Martinez is one of the most notable stars currently on the free agent market but work has been difficult to come by as he approaches his age-37 season.

Martinez had issues finding a job at this time last year and he still is on the market after a disappointing season with the New York Mets. While many expected him to hang it up, Martinez is still seeking a 15th season in the major leagues and a spot as a power bat in the middle of a lineup.

Former Red Sox Star J.D. Martinez Says He Is Planning to Play in 2025

Martinez’s desire to play was reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post over the weekend. Heyman noted that Martinez’s veteran presence was a big influence in the Mets’ clubhouse on the way to the National League Championship Series but his production wasn’t up to his All-Star standards.

Martinez hit .235/.320/.406 with 16 home runs and 69 RBI for the Mets in 2024 and it was far off his career .283/.348/.516 line over his career. While Martinez spent time with the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks early in his career, some of his best years came in a Red Sox uniform after signing a five-year, $110 million contract in 2018.

The deal paid immediate dividends as Martinez hit .330/.402/.629 with 43 home runs and 130 RBI to finish fourth in American League Most Valuable Player Award voting and lead the Red Sox to a World Series championship. He continued to hit through the duration of the contract, hitting .292/.363/.526 and earned four of his six career All-Star appearances during his five years with the Red Sox.

Martinez left Boston after the 2022 season and had one more All-Star season, hitting .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 103 RBI. While Martinez was one of the more productive hitters in baseball, his status as a pure designated hitter limited his market and he considered retiring when he couldn’t find a job last spring and again when the Mets were eliminated last October.

“I felt like it was just an awkward year,” Martinez in an interview with SNY. “Here I am, the team’s breaking in five days, and I don’t even have a team yet. Your brain goes into a weird mode, where you’re like ‘Am I playing? Am I not? Am I playing? Am I not? Is this it? Am I retired? …We weren’t asking for anything that, at the time, I feel like other players hadn’t gotten.”

Looking at the current free agent market, there’s not a lot of demand for sluggers in their late 30s. 37-year-old Donovan Solano signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Seattle Mariners last month and 38-year-old Andrew McCutchen signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates toward the beginning of free agency. But other veterans such as 38-year-old Josè Abreu, 39-year-old Matt Carpenter, 40-year-old Justin Turner and 41-year-old Yuli Gurriel are still unsigned although none had the production Martinez had last season.

With Pete Alonso also still on the market, teams may be looking at him for middle of the order production as opposed to signing one of the aging sluggers. There are a few dominoes that may need to fall for Martinez to find a home next year, but for now, his plan is to play somewhere in 2025.

More Boston Red Sox News & Rumors: