All-Star catcher Victor Martinez of the Boston Red Sox is uncertain about his future beyond this season. He’ll soon be a free agent, and the Red Sox have yet to discuss with him a long-term deal.

The Red Sox decided against a long-term deal last winter because they wanted to see how things played out with Martinez as their number one backstop.

Having been named to this year’s All-Star team solidifies how much he is contributing to the team, so the Red Sox will need to make important decisions before 2011. Here’s what Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe had to say:

1) Do they pick up a $12 million option on David Ortiz’s contract, or do they try to negotiate that down so he’s in line with the Hideki Matsui and Vladimir Guerrero salaries, which are half that? 2) If Ortiz balks, do the Sox then sign Martinez long term as a DH/1B/C? 3) What do they do with Adrian Beltre, who can also be a free agent. If Beltre goes elsewhere, that might open the door for Kevin Youkilis to go back to third and for Martinez to become the primary first baseman.

If Martinez continues to hit well throughout the remaining months of the season, then he’ll be a hot free agent come this winter. When that happens, Cafardo wonders if the Red Sox will make Martinez the second-highest paid catcher behind Joe Mauer.

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