After rumors and speculation surrounding his uncertain future with the Boston Red Sox, J.D. Martinez elected to not exercise the opt-out clause in his contract for the 2022 season.

Martinez is now set to feature with Boston next season on the final campaign of the five-year contract deal he signed with the team in 2018. He will earn $19.3 million in what will be his 12th year in the majors.

As mentioned, there was outside talk on whether Martinez would agree to exercise this opt-out option in order to test free agency. But as his agent, Scott Boras, noted on Wednesday, the four-time All-Star is much “comfortable” with his situation in Boston.

“J.D. (Martinez) looked at his situation,” Boras said. “He's comfortable in Boston and he got his swing back.

“Where 2020 was disruptive for him, he started working and getting his swing back. And he wanted to be the best version of himself when he hit free agency. And he thought he would do that after another season in Boston where he’s comfortable.”

Boras also made mention that Red Sox team officials noted to Martinez of their plans to make the team more “competitive”, which comes after Boston's run to the ALCS last season.

“And the ownership there has supported this decision and told him they’re going to make every effort to make the team even more competitive,” Boras said. “So he’s decided to return.”

Martinez is coming off of a formidable campaign over the 2021 season. He recorded 28 home runs and 99 RBI over his 148 games played. After posting a sluggish -0.7 bWAR in the shortened 2020 season, he followed it up with a potent 3.0 bWAR in 2021.

Martinez is now set to hit free agency following the 2022 campaign.