The Diamondbacks’ odds of re-signing free agent right fielder J.D. Martinez already looked low even before a report emerged Wednesday that he’s seeking a contract worth around $200MM in guarantees. The team’s chances of keeping the star slugger seemingly took another hit Friday when CEO Derrick Hall announced that its payroll won’t significantly climb in 2018.
“You’re not talking about $10 million,” Hall said of a potential spending increase (via Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic). That’s not to say the Diamondbacks won’t increase their payroll at all, however. There could be wiggle room for them to add a few million in payroll as the offseason moves along and club gets a clearer picture of its anticipated revenue.
Arizona hasn’t opened a season above the $100MM mark since 2014, though it did close each of the past two years above that figure. Now, thanks largely to guaranteed money owed to five veterans (Zack Greinke, Yasmany Tomas, Paul Goldschmidt, Jeff Mathis and Daniel Descalso) and arbitration projections for 14 other players, the Diamondbacks are already in the $120MM range for 2018 without having added any new players, per an estimate from Jason Martinez of MLBTR and Roster Resource.
All signs are pointing toward J.D. Martinez’s exit via the open market, though Hall did say Friday that the Diamondbacks are “going to be aggressive for, really, any and all players that can help us,” adding that they’re “taking a strong look” at the 30-year-old (via Steve Gilbert of MLB.com). Martinez’s agent, Scott Boras, suggested Wednesday that he expects the Diamondbacks to be serious contenders to sign his client. But Hall revealed on Friday that there have not been any discussions between the club and Boras since Martinez hired him as his new representative Nov. 1.
“(We had) some good conversations (before free agency began) and since then he’s sought new representation, so things have changed from those initial conversations,” Hall said. “But J.D. is such a great guy and we’re just glad to know that he enjoyed his time here because we enjoyed him being here, too.”
After Arizona acquired Martinez from Detroit in a mid-July trade, he batted an all-world .302/.366/.741 with 29 home runs in 232 plate appearances to emerge as one of the most effective midseason pickups of all-time. That dazzling second-half output helped the Diamondbacks to a 93-69 finish and their first playoff berth since 2011, and Boras is well aware of it.
“High atop the MLB Empire rests the King Kong of Slug — a 50-point lead,” Boras said of the slugging percentage Martinez posted in Arizona (Twitter link via Jon Morosi of MLB Network). “That’s how dominant J.D. Kong is.”
Boras is really hyping him up. King Kong reall… He went off in a little leauge park.
Yeah, that 4 homer game at Dodger Stadium was great.
JD is a great hitter but it just set up too perfect for boras the way he got super hot with AZ. Asking 200 million for him is wild.
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I think Hall’s comments are right on, and are the perfect response to Scott Boras’ ridiculous remarks earlier this week. Boras tried to pressure the D’backs into making an opening bid on J.D. and at the same time leverage higher bidding around the league. Hall said, ‘no bid’ and ‘we can’t afford him so we won’t embarrass J.D. with a low ball bid’. Boras is back to square one. He won’t be using the D’backs as his pawn for getting a mega deal for his client.
That’s ok cause he’s gonna get paid!!!
The Diamondbacks might get him back on a pillow contract.
J.D. is going to be out there for a loooooonng time. Could be looking for a pillow in March.
Of all players, why would JD have to settle for a pillow contract coming off this past season? You make it sound like he’s Mark Trumbo.
Because he’s now a Boras client. We’ve seen it in the past with him. I don’t think the D-Backs re-sign him.
Pillow contract? He will have multiple teams offering multiple years for big money. Do you even know what a pillow contract is? Obviously not
He will get 150-200 from the Giants, and 150 from anyone else wanting his services
Martinez will play for the Red Sox next year. I can’t believe nobody mentioned it.
Didn’t this site predict him to go there?
Your username should be Voice of Overmentioned Ideas. Everyone and their mother has pointed out a connection between the Red Sox and J.D. (Including MLBTR!!!)
I hope you were being sarcastic
Depends how trade talks go with the Marlins regarding Stanton.
Trader Dave will do something stupid. He will bid against himself. He’s made some great trades and decent signings but he is power hungry. He is either going to give up 175 million for JD or trade Xander or Jackie for Stanton (or both) something wild is going to happen with the Sox for sure. He is going to overpay on both ends just to fill the hr gap
the red sox dont need xander or jackie for stanton.
but, theyd take a bad contract back if you offer up chavis, chatham, beeks, and ball.
Does Trey Ball even have value anymore? I doubt he’d move the needle at all
I could see JD going to Washington. I know the Boars and DC connection has been played out, but DC is no longer paying Werth and Washington is not going to be able to afford Harper when his contract is up. Why not pay for JD?
washington needs pen pieces and some rotation help.
they also are getting eaton back.
between taylor/goodwin, eaton, harper, and robles/soto no way they give JD a hard look.
I guess I wasn’t paying attention when the term was coined but does anyone have the story behind the term “pillow contract”? Who first used it? When? Thank you in advance.