J.D. Martinez undecided on 2022 player option: 'I'm right in the middle'
Boston Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez isn't sure if he'll exercise his $19.35-million player option for next season.
The 2022 campaign is the final year on Martinez's five-year, $110-million contract.
"I'm right in the middle," Martinez told WEEI.com's Rob Bradford. "It's a balancing line, and I'm right in the middle. I haven't made a decision. I don't worry about that stuff, but right now I'm right in the middle."
Martinez can opt in or decline his option up until five days after this year's World Series. The four-time All-Star was also given opportunities to opt out following each of the previous two campaigns, but he decided to stay with the Red Sox.
The veteran is enjoying a resurgent season after a down year in 2020. The 34-year-old is batting .285 with 27 home runs and 96 RBIs. He's provided steady production for most of his tenure in Beantown.
Martinez drove in an MLB-leading 130 runs and finished fourth in MVP voting during his first season with the Red Sox in 2018. He also won the AL Hank Aaron Award and a pair of Silver Slugger awards that year.