The Boston Red Sox finished the 2017 regular season with the best record in the AL East at 93-69 but need to improve considering the moves made by other American League teams this offseason. As such, they have their sights set on landing two of the biggest names on the open market. Here are the top rumors surrounding the Red Sox that you need to know:
J.D Martinez willing to hold out into spring training
Boston has been heavily pursuing slugger J.D Martinez this offseason and has made him their top target, but the two sides are in a bit of a stalemate due to his desire to receive a six-year deal (Boston's offer is currently a five-year deal). In order to get that six-year deal, Martinez is willing to hold out well into spring training, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.
Miami acquaintances of Martinez say he is willing to “hold out,” certainly into spring training, for what he believes should be his market value. The Red Sox have offered Martinez a five-year deal, and sources suggest at least one other has, too.
In any case, word coming out of Miami is that Martinez, 30, believes it appropriate that he get a six-year deal. It isn’t known what kind of total dollars the Red Sox, Diamondbacks and maybe others are offering (the Jays also have been showing interest and met with Martinez at the Winter Meetings), but sources suggest that Martinez is seeking $30 million-plus annually — $200 million if he can get it but at least $180 million, following his boffo season, first in Detroit and then Arizona.
Martinez hit .303 with 45 home runs and 104 RBIs in 199 games last season with both the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Boston pursuing Yu Darvish?
The Red Sox tried to acquire pitcher Yu Darvish at the trade deadline last season, and with Darvish saying that a "mystery team" is pursuing him, Metro's Matt Burke reports that Boston may very well be that team and going after the ace as a "Plan B" to Martinez.
On the same day that JD Martinez’s camp made it clear that they’re not going to give the Red Sox any sort of discount this winter and that they’re more than willing to let this thing linger well into spring training, the Red Sox may have been sending signals to Martinez’s camp that they have a Plan B.
The 31-year-old had a 3.86 ERA over 186.2 innings pitched with 209 strikeouts and 58 walks with the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers last season.
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Arbitration with Mookie Betts expected to go to hearing
The Red Sox are expected to go to an arbitration hearing for Mookie Betts, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.
The team did not, however, reach agreement on a 2018 salary for Mookie Betts prior to Friday’s deadline to exchange salary figures for a potential arbitration hearing. Betts and the team will instead proceed to an arbitration hearing.
Betts, who hit .264 with 24 home runs and 102 RBIs last season, reportedly filed at $10.5 million, while Boston filed at $7.5 million.
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