The defending champion Boston Red Sox had a stressful season.
From rotation woes negating one of the highest-scoring offenses in the majors to a host of trade rumors surrounding outfielder Mookie Betts, it has been a tough year to be a Red Sox fan. Not to mention, they're the first team in three years to miss the playoffs just one season after winning the World Series.
However, it appears things might go from bad to worse.
Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez has been one of the most productive bats in baseball over the course of the last two seasons, but he has a player option he can decline this winter, making him a free agent.
According to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe, Martinez will do just that:
Of course, Abraham is referencing MLB agent Scott Boras in this tweet. Boras represents a host of big-name clients, including Martinez. He is also one of the most hard-driving agents in the industry.
The Red Sox find themselves in a tough position. They just recently jettisoned former president of baseball operations David Dombrowski and are now operating with a group of interim executives.
While rumors of a potential Betts deal continue to swirl, a Martinez opt-out could drastically alter Boston's approach this winter. The Red Sox cannot afford to lose two of the best hitters in the game during the same offseason.
It makes sense that Martinez would consider opting out of his current deal. His production will likely earn him a higher annual value and a ton of guaranteed money in the open market.
Are the Red Sox willing to engage in a potential bidding war? Doing so would be somewhat of a regression to the Dombrowski method, but the team might not have another choice.