Martinez understands potential trade from Red Sox

Boston Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez recognizes his time with the franchise could come to an end by the Aug. 2 trade deadline.

The Red Sox are an underwhelming 7-17 in July and have fallen into the basement of the AL East standings.

Martinez acknowledged Thursday that a trade would become more likely if the club continues to scuffle.

"I would understand it. I wouldn’t be upset about it. Of course I want to be here, stay here," Martinez said, according to The Boston Globe's Alex Speier. "I’m a lot more comfortable here. I would prefer the club wins today, starts a winning streak, and makes it real hard on them."

Martinez is in the final season of a five-year, $110-million deal inked in 2018. With just four games to play before the deadline, multiple sources have told Speier there is a good chance the Red Sox will deal Martinez regardless of how the team performs.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future in Boston, Martinez is trying to remain focused on what he can control on the field.

"The Red Sox are a first-class organization, but the industry in total, it’s a business," Martinez said. "At the end of the day, it’s a business, and everyone’s going to treat it that way. So I don’t get involved in that. I kind of just focus on what I can control, who I’m facing on the mound."

The 34-year-old owns a .828 OPS with nine home runs and 38 RBIs in 84 games this season.

Martinez's teammate Xander Bogaerts has also been connected to trade rumors due to the club's recent struggles, but Bogaerts told reporters Thursday that the Red Sox informed him they wouldn't move him before the deadline.