JD Martinez Has Strong Response to MLB's CBA Problems

Boston Red Sox slugger JD Martinez is flustered, and no, his feelings have nothing to do with the franchise trading outfielder Mookie Betts.

This time, the 32-year-old DH voiced his concerns regarding the MLB's current collective bargaining agreement. More specifically, Martinez believes that the league doesn't see a problem with a plethora of teams being OK with the concept of tanking.

"In the new CBA, we have to figure out a way to make teams competitive,” Martinez said in an interview with WEEI. "I believe we are losing a lot of fan bases in certain cities because there are no rewards for winning. There’s more of a reward for losing in today’s game than anything. I think we’re losing a lot of fans because teams are more motivated to lose than they are to win. Right now you can figure out the top three or four teams in the league and what teams are going to be competing for the World Series. That’s not how it should be."

The three-time All-Star continued to articulate his displeasure with Rob Manfred's proposed changes to the current playoff format, noting that it won't help the problem that teams are being rewarded for losing.

What's most telling of Martinez's diatribe is the fact that his Red Sox would have made the playoffs last season under the new proposed playoff format. He is simply that against the concept of rewarding mediocrity.

Martinez makes some good points here, but history has taught us that Manfred won't appease the outcries of star players. The CBA is set to expire after the 2021 season, and Boston's bopper might just be better off preparing for disappointment.