With JD Martinez opting into the next year of his contract with the Boston Red Sox, payroll flexibility has diminished. There are definitely cheaper options on the free agent market, and trading Martinez could open up some room on the roster.
If Martinez were traded, he’d leave quite a large pair of shoes to fill as he averaged 117.5 RBI’s, 39.5 homers, and a .317 batting average in his two seasons in Boston. Those are some hot numbers for any player!
While there is likely no player on the market who can put up those numbers, there are some lesser options that should come for much less money.