Is it time for J.D. Martinez to reevaluate his lofty contract demands?

Someone has to sign J.D. Martinez, right?

In the not-too-distant past, he would have scooped up the contract of his - and agent Scott Boras' - dreams somewhere around the seven-year, $210-million deal he was reportedly pursuing at the onset of free agency. That simply isn't happening, as the market has been uncharacteristically cold, even though he is the most appealing position player available.

Nobody has received a deal in the free-agent market beyond three years, and teams have appeared more skittish about doling out big money. While the Philadelphia Phillies dropped $20 million per year on Carlos Santana, it was a short-term fix that won't burn them if he fails to produce.

Martinez and Boras have a few options, some more appealing than others, and perhaps an avenue that has been unexplored that's worth considering.

Option 1: Dig in his heels

Martinez knows what he brings to the table, and every team holding out on him knows it, too. Since being cast aside by the Houston Astros and signed by the Detroit Tigers prior to 2014, all he's done is hit. Over four seasons, he's hit .300/.362/.574 with 128 home runs, 124 doubles, and 350 RBIs in 520 games. He capped that off with one of the hottest stretches of power in recent memory, leading the majors in homers in the second half of 2017 with 31. He mashed 16 of them in September alone.

There's no doubt he believes he's worth the money he desires, and sticking to his guns is an admirable pursuit. There is a possibility that he holds out into spring training and winds up getting the offer he wants when a front office gets desperate and finally blinks.

What happens if no one panics? Could he hold out into the regular season? It's possible, but it's also not the ideal outcome.

Option 2: Acquiesce to the Red Sox

Boras has disputed reports that the Boston Red Sox offered his client a five-year, $100-million contract, but let's assume that an offer is on the table well below Martinez's initial demands. If that's the case, he could swallow his pride and take the lesser deal to ensure he can play the entire season.

This is unappealing to Martinez, Boras, and the MLBPA, the latter already expressing disdain over the slow free-agent market. If players start accepting cheaper and shorter deals, it's not good for future bargaining. But, from a team's perspective, mammoth contracts spoiling ahead of the finish line have happened too often in recent memory. It's a reality the MLBPA and those seeking these contracts are going to have to deal with. Front offices are less willing to dish out long contracts for big money to have success in the interim.

The Tigers are feeling this crunch. Detroit is expected to be one of the American League's worst teams in 2018, and yet they have a payroll in excess of $118 million - 16th highest in baseball. The Red Sox, Martinez's most likely suitor, have been burned recently via Pablo Sandoval (five years, $95 million), so it's understandable they're less willing to pony up.

Option 3: Craft a creative compromise

Time to get nuts. If the BoSox don't offer a contract to Martinez's liking, he needs to find a different home. One way of gaining leverage could be to accept a short-term deal on the condition of a higher annual payday, potentially offsetting some of the lost income he would have encountered with a longer contract.

If a team that currently sits well below the 2018 luxury tax limit of $197 million decides to make Martinez the highest paid player in the game for the upcoming season with a two-year, $70-million offer, it could be enticing. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is currently set to earn the most in 2018 at just north of $34 million. Pay Martinez like he's the hottest commodity, but don't go long.

It has to be a two-year deal. If it's a lofty, one-year offer, Martinez would enter the free agent pool at the same time as Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and Josh Donaldson, which is a scenario best avoided. The risk is becoming a free agent again at 32, especially if injuries rear their ugly head in the interim. That alone may provide enough pushback to avoid such a short-term solution.

But teams like the Toronto Blue Jays (who have expressed interest in Martinez before), Arizona Diamondbacks (where he saw plenty of success), Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins are slated to be far enough below the tax threshold to potentially be able to take on such a massive contract without being dinged. Each of those teams have either reached the playoffs in recent years or have been on the cusp.

The addition of Martinez could be the piece that pushes these clubs into contention in 2018, so it's in their best interest to at least pursue the possibility. Maybe Martinez is set on a longer term, and no increase in annual value will sway him, but being the richest player in baseball - even if only temporarily - has to have its charms.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)