The club's switch-hitting backstop has one more year remaining on his contract and is expected to be one of the hottest free agents on the market if the Red Sox don't sign him to an extension this season.
If it were up to him, the club would put together a deal that would keep him in town for the remainder of his career.
"A lot of guys like to be free agents, but I’m going to be really honest on this answer," Martinez told the Boston Herald. "I don’t want to be jumping around, I don’t want to go somewhere else.
First, I didn’t want to go out of the Indians organization. Then I’m
out, and now I’m here. I came to the place where a lot of players dream
to come and a lot of players wish to play here in Boston. So I’m here,
I do really want to stay here and hopefully end my career in Boston."
But Boston may have some questions about the seven-year veteran's durability behind the dish. He basically split time between catcher and first base last season (85 games at catcher, 70 games at first) and he played just 73 games in 2008 due to right elbow inflammation.
"Maybe [the Red Sox] want to see me play a full year as catcher, but remember, my whole career is as a catcher. Everything I’ve done is as a catcher. If they want to see it, they’re going to see it, I’ve got nothing against that. But I don’t know what’s going to happen. Like I said, I don’t really want to be a free agent. If they give me a chance to be a free agent, I don’t know what’s going to happen."
Like many ball players, V-Mart wants to see an extension signed before the start of the season. Playing pro ball is taxing enough on a player, and not having to worry about a contract or his future would be best for the 31-year-old three-time All-Star, both personally and professionally.
But with the season slated to start in April, the clock is ticking for the Boston brass, as Martinez has put the ball in their court.
"As soon as the season starts, I don’t want to be talking about numbers or be talking about something that can distract me from the game and distract my teammates," Martinez said. "That’s the last thing I want with this great team they’ve put together. Maybe, who knows, they come to me in spring training with something. Honestly, I’m all open now until the season starts. As soon as the season starts, I barely talk to my mom."
