BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox leads off the bag after hitting a two RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 29, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Martinez made it through the trade deadline without being traded, and his response was absolutely perfect.
Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Martinez was implicated in several trade talks leading up to the deadline, but he’s officially staying in Boston for the rest of the season.
Martinez seemingly doesn’t want to talk about trade anymore, according to a comical Tweet from Boston Globe Red Sox beat writer Julian McWilliams.
Martinez told McWilliams, “Everyone can leave me alone now.”
Before the deadline, Martinez expressed he’d be okay with being traded.
JD Martinez expressed he’d have no hard feelings if the Red Sox traded him
Though Martinez’s response to staying in Boston seemed like he was relieved, he expressed before the deadline to Chaim Bloom that he should “do what’s best for the franchise.”
”Do whatever you think is going to be best for the franchise. It’s really not going to affect me wanting to come back here next year. Make the franchise better. If you think we have a chance then let’s go for it. I want to go for it. I don’t have so many years left.” -J.D. Martinez, via the Boston Globe
Martinez has played for several teams aside from the Red Sox, including the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and the Arizona Diamondbacks throughout his 12-season career. He’s one of the best hitters in Boston, slightly below Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers.
Martinez is hitting .284/.350/.454 for an OPS of .804 this season. The Red Sox are having a highly inconsistent season, so it’s no surprise they kept him around.