Should the Red Sox make signing Victor Martinez to a contract extension a priority?
In reality, it was a question without multiple answers, as David Ortiz matter-of-factly pointed out.
“You’re going to let a guy like that go?” the Red Sox DH responded. “Bring the guy here, put him in the third spot, play him all over the place and have him do what he’s done. You’re going to let him go? That’s not even a question. You’re going to have to do better than that.”
Ortiz was right, the value of Martinez has been undeniable since he became a Red Sox on the afternoon of July 31. So much so that it makes you wonder how important not letting the catcher/first baseman even get a sniff of free agency will be.
The 30-year-old has a team option left on his current contract that, at $7.5 million, will undoubtedly be picked up by the Red Sox. But after that, there are no guarantees.
And when it comes to looking toward the future of all spots currently occupied by Martinez, any sort of certainty is a welcome entity.
So, with the player's value defined, what now?
The Red Sox and Martinez have not begun to discuss a contract extension, although it’s a subject that the three-time All-Star isn’t shying away from.
“Definitely,” said Martinez when asked if he would like to talk about extending his stay with the Red Sox. “Who wouldn’t want to play here in Boston? It’s up to them, but from my side, I would want to stay here.
“Hopefully they want to do something. I would be more than happy to sit down and talk.”
It’s no secret that there will be decisions seemingly as pressing for the Red Sox’ front office before Martinez’ option year runs out. In the short-term, there’s the expiring contract of Jason Bay to consider, a dilemma that figures to be the most pressing issue of this offseason.
Josh Beckett has a $12 million team option following this season, one that is just as likely to be activated by the Sox as Martinez’s. Mike Lowell’s deal is up after ’10. And the guaranteed portion of David Ortiz’ contract ends after next season, with a $12.5 million club option for ’11 that isn’t nearly the slam dunk many once thought it might be.
Yet no decision might be as important as the one facing the Red Sox in regard to Martinez.
He is young enough to invest in for a sizeable yearly commitment, while playing positions that fit the Red Sox' needs for the present and future like a glove. Once the Jason Varitek era comes to an end, Martinez can be the bridge for whichever youngster the Sox want to groom into the role of an everyday backstop, while offering an appetizing option at first base when Kevin Youkilis takes on more time at third.
But the most important element of Martinez’ game when analyzing his long-term value to the Red Sox is the ability to hit in the meat and potatoes of the club’s lineup… And he’s a switch-hitter, to boot.
Solutions for middle of the order production don’t figure to be coming from the Red Sox’ farm system in the next few years (first base prospect Lars Anderson hit his first home run in nearly two months on Thursday night), and the team doesn’t believe that its biggest run-producers necessarily have to be 30-plus home run guys. (Martinez’ high is 25 homers in ’07.)
But he hits with enough pop to push across runs (as his 85 RBI would suggest), and when Jacoby Ellsbury or Dustin Pedroia are aboard, there is confidence that Martinez is going to find a way to move them along.
He might have been just the new guy for a while, but by now Martinez has taken on an entirely new persona. Now he’s the guy the Red Sox can’t afford to do without.
“It’s funny I had this conversation with my wife, of all people, because she’s at home watching all the broadcasts. She said you would never know that Victor Martinez was good before he got here,” Bay said. “I said, ‘Yeah, he’s always been pretty good.’ Boston, the spotlight is a little bit bigger, and to do what he’s done, especially in a pennant race, is pretty impressive. He’s come in and not only been productive but has become a clubhouse leader. He’s been great.”
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