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J.D. Martinez: 'I would not want to be a free agent during this time'

Boston Globe / Getty

Boston Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez has an opportunity to opt out of his contract at the end of the season, which could make him one of the more attractive free agents on the open market.

On Thursday, the 33-year-old discussed that option and didn't sound thrilled about joining free agency during a time where teams are losing money due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I honestly feel I would not want to be a free agent during this time for that reason," Martinez said, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive. "You just don't know. Everything's up in the air. For guys like that, it's just weird."

When asked if that meant he'd be staying in Boston, Martinez wouldn't commit one way or the other.

"Negative," he replied. "That was a slider. Did you stay back on it or you swung through it?"

Martinez added: "To me, I never get caught up in the past or the future. I try to stay to what I can control. And that's today. At this point in my life and this point in my time and what I'm thinking about, is not even about the opt out or about anything like that. I'm really focusing on right now."

After signing a five-year, $110-million contract with the Red Sox before the 2018 season, Martinez hit 79 home runs and 235 RBIs during his first two campaigns in Boston.

He's had different results this year for a struggling Red Sox club, hitting three homers and posting a .718 OPS through 34 games.

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