Red Sox president admits it will be ‘difficult’ to keep both Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez

Travis Durkee

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Red Sox president admits it will be ‘difficult’ to keep both Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez image

Instead of focusing on defending its World Series title, the Red Sox front office is taking a long, hard look at its books and trying to figure out how to keep superstars Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez in Boston.

Last Friday, team owner John Henry said he wants to get the team’s payroll below the lowest Competitive Balance Tax threshold, which will be $208 million. Team president and CEO Sam Kennedy said Monday it would be “difficult” to lower the payroll (which ended 2019 at $242 million) and keep both Martinez and Betts. However, he did say there is a way.

“It will be difficult given the nature of the agreements in place,” Kennedy told reporters. “We have a very targeted and strategic plan that we’re building right now.”

Martinez, who has batted .317 with 79 home runs and 235 RBIs in two seasons with Boston, has a player option for 2020 allowing him to enter free agency despite having three years left on his deal.

“You want J.D. Martinez in the middle of your lineup,” Kennedy said. “He’s a world champion and was a key part of last year’s success, so we will see where it goes in the future, but we haven’t engaged in any specific discussions.” 

Then there’s Betts, the 2018 American League MVP, who has one year left on his deal before becoming a free agent in 2021. Red Sox chairman Tom Werner has said he hopes to reach an extension with Betts this offseason that will likely pay him around $30 million per year.

Boston will get a bit of relief with Rick Porcello hitting free agency and Pablo Sandoval‘s, Steve Pearce‘s, Mitch Moreland‘s and Eduardo Nunez’s salaries coming off the books, but paying both Martinez and Betts top dollar will put a squeeze on the eventual GM of the team to stay under the $208 million threshold and build a competitive team.

There’s certainly a different vibe around Fenway today compared to 11 months ago.

Travis Durkee