Scott Boras: Client J.D. Martinez Not ‘Fed Up’ With Red Sox

The Red Sox offered five years and $125 million to free agent J.D. Martinez. But the player is apparently "fed up" that the team isn't offering more. And now, his agent - that would be Scott Boras - is denying that he made any such remark.

The Martinez saga continues even as the Red Sox get set to start spring training (pitchers and catchers report on Valentine's Day, Wednesday, Feb. 14). And somehow, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Martinez is holding it against the Red Sox that they won't budge beyond their already-large offer, likely the largest of any club.

"[Martinez] is telling people in Miami that he is willing to hold out until he gets his price ... He also is telling people that he is fed up with the Red Sox’s inflexibility and would rather sign with another club, sources say," wrote Rosenthal.

Boras is now denying those comments, via Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston.

"J.D. Martinez has never made any statement regarding the Red Sox," said Boras. "J.D. is involved in multiple negotiations and is pleased with the participants and the good-faith process. Suggestions otherwise are not accurate."

Martinez has looked like an attractive option on paper for the Red Sox, considering that he's averaged 40 home runs per 162 games over the last four seasons. But now that it's clear he doesn't really want to come here unless he gets more money, then maybe it's best to just move on. He's already off to a bad start with both the Red Sox organization and with fans who have followed the story.

The Sox have been down this road before, bending over backward to reel in free agents who only signed here because Boston turned out to be the highest bidder. Martinez is a good hitter but not worth this kind of headache. And not to mention, there's a reason no other team has signed him yet. It's likely that the other 29 teams want him even less than the Red Sox.

What does Boras even mean by "multiple negotiations"? He probably means two teams. The Red Sox and the Diamondbacks. If Dave Dombrowski and the Red Sox are holding firm on their best offer then they're actually making the right move for once. Especially considering that it doesn't sound like Martinez truly wants to come here.

At this point, maybe the Sox really should just move forward with what they have and hold out for better players to emerge in next year's free agent class, or maybe even the 2018 trade deadline. A player like Martinez isn't valuable enough to go trough a public spat like this.

-- By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com

Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.