Charlie Blackmon and J.D. Martinez, a tale of two powerful outfielders

Charlie Blackmon and J.D. Martinez are similar baseball players with similar career trajectories. Both started playing in the big leagues in 2011 at ages 24 and 23, respectively, and both just signed multi-year, $100+ million contracts. After a long wait this past offseason, Martinez signed a 5-year, $110 million deal with the Boston Red Sox on February 26, 2018. Charlie Blackmon signed a 6-year, $108 million (with incentives that can boost it up to $116 million) contract with the Colorado Rockies on April 4, 2018.

Contract Breakdowns

Other Features

Blackmon

• $2 million signing bonus in 2018
• Increase in 2023 salary by $2 million if he finishes in the top 3 of MVP voting in any year (2018-2022)
• Increase in 2023 salary by $1 million if he finishes 4th or 5th in MVP voting in any year (2018-2022)
• Escalation in 2023 salary by $5 million if he has between 400-575 plate appearances
• 2023 salary may escalate by no more than $8 million due to incentives (max salary for 2023 is $18 million)
• Limited no-trade clause including 10/5 rights (ten years total service time, five with his current club) after 2022 season, which means he can veto any trade from there on out
• Player options in 2022 and 2023
• Hotel suite for all road games

Martinez

• Player option in 2019 - $2.5 million buyout
• Player option in 2020 - no buyout
• Player option in 2021 - no buyout
• Mutual option in 2021 if:

1. Martinez suffers a Lisfranc injury related to his prior Lisfranc injury. A three-doctor system will define if related to prior Lisfranc injury or a new injury.
2. Martinez spends a certain amount of time on the DL because of that old injury - specifically, if he spends 60 days on the DL in Year 3 - or 10 days in Year 3, plus a total of 120 days in Year 2 and Year 3.

• Mutual option in 2022 if:

1. Martinez suffers a Lisfranc injury related to his prior Lisfranc injury. A three-doctor system will define if related to prior Lisfranc injury or a new injury.
2. Martinez spends a certain amount of time on the DL because of that old injury - specifically, if he spends 60 days on the DL in Year 4 - or 10 days in Year 4, plus a total of 120 days in Year 3 and Year 4.

★ ★ ★

Martinez’s contract includes more money up front. However, Blackmon’s includes more incentives and escalators for his later seasons. Martinez’s contract also includes injury protections and mutual options, whereas Blackmon’s only includes player options. Currently, it looks like Blackmon got a better deal!

Statistical Comparisons

You’re probably thinking, “OK, they have very similar contracts but Charlie and J.D. are two completely different ballplayers.” J.D. has been used mostly as either a corner outfielder or a designated hitter; Charlie has moved around the outfield but was moved into center field full time in 2016. J.D. has been used as a power bat in the four or five hole and Charlie has been used almost exclusively been a leadoff hitter. The list goes on and on.

However, if you look at some of their statistics since 2011 (when they both broke into the big leagues), you’ll find that they have put up very similar offensive numbers in their careers:

As you can see, both players have fairly equal numbers. They’ve played in a similar amount of games and put up very similar statistics. Blackmon blows Martinez out of the water with overall hits and runs, but Martinez has 37 more home runs.

Blackmon has some dramatic home/road splits, slashing .344/.405/.564 with 495 hits, 61 home runs, and 212 RBI at home over his career and .266/.314/.436 with 395 hits, 54 home runs, and 195 RBI on the road. Martinez has some less dramatic but still significant home/road splits. Over his career, he has a line of .299/.355/.557 at home (in three different parks) with 418 hits, 86 home runs, and 260 RBI and .271/.330/.473 with 394 hits, 67 home runs, and 220 RBI on the road. One could attribute that success for both players to playing the majority of their games in hitter-friendly parks such as Coors Field, Minute Maid Park, Comerica Park, and Chase Field.

However, they are also fairly similar defensively, at least as far as the statistics we have available are concerned. In defensive runs saved (DRS), they seem to alternate who has the better year:

So what does this all mean?

Overall, Blackmon and Martinez are similar players and were rewarded with similar contracts in what is currently a tough market for the players. Blackmon appears to be the better defensive outfielder, but Martinez is the slightly better offensive bat when he’s healthy. Martinez’s contract has more money attached to it, but Blackmon’s has more room for monetary gain in later years. Look for them to continue to be forces in the league for at least five to six more years!