Another power hitter has fallen off the free agent market, but not at the price he or his agent thought it would be. J.D. Martinez inked a five-year, $122 million contract that includes opt-outs after the second and third years of the deal, with the Boston Red Sox Feb. 19.

It is a nice raise for the 30-year-old outfielder. Martinez’s last contract, signed with the Tigers in 2016, was for $18.5 million. When last season ended, however, with Martinez coming off a career year, agent Scott Boras was reportedly thinking $200 million was a nice place to open negotiations.

The agent was alone at his table.

The Red Sox won the AL East, with 93 wins in 2017, in spite finishing last in the American League with 168 homers last season. Martinez, on the other hand, hit 45 dingers and held a .890 slugging percentage between Detroit and Arizona. Martinez is expected to DH.

Dyson signed

The Diamondbacks signed outfielder Jarrod Dyson, 32, to a two-year $7.5 million incentive-laden contract. Dyson is known for speed, not power. A lifetime .258 hitter, Dyson averages about 30 steals a year, but only has 12 home runs in his six-year career.

If Arizona wants some power in the outfield, the D-backs may want to consider Carlos Gonzalez. Gonzalez was awful in his contract year with the Rockies hitting .262 with only 14 home runs and 57 RBI.

But his career numbers are solid with 215 homers, 117 RBI, and a .287 batting average. Gonzalez will be 32, but he is much better than anyone has in camp now.

Third baseman Mike Moustakas is probably the best power hitter available with Gonzalez off the market, but now, no one seems interested in the 29-year-old slugger. There is a question about the player's knees, but the Angels and Yankees were looking to fill the hot corner at the end of 2017 and neither considered the Moose.

But there is no collusion in MLB.

Baltimore moves

The Orioles did what the Orioles do last week. Baltimore inked a mediocre pitcher, Andrew Cashner, to a two-year $16 million contract with an option for a third year. Cashner had a great year in Texas in 2017. He won 11 games, held his ERA down to 3.40 and posted a WAR of 4.6.

He is only good for about five frames a start. Although Cashner has a career ERA of 3.80, he is only a four at best.

Baltimore resigned Chris Tillman Feb. 19 for a guaranteed $3 million for one year with another $7 million in possible incentives. Tillman suffered shoulder problems in 2017 posting an ERA inflated to 7.84 in 19 games with the Birds.

Ubaldo Jimenez is finally gone. He had four years with the Birds, 104 starts, and 5.22 ERA. And it only cost the organization $50 million.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED