The problem with redoing his contract is that he has a very low base this year. However, he does have $13 million in base next year. So we could increase his base this year some while lowering his base next year and adding two years on to his deal. The guarantee is really what's important to these players, so if the team did that and pumped another $30 million in guarantees into the deal, that would probably get the job done. Split the bonus over four years and lower the base next year and you have something like this year going from $11 million to $18 and next year reducing from $23 million to $19 million (base goes from $13 million to $2 million and is fully guaranteed). Pump some artificial higher bases into those last two years to set up another restructure if he's still playing at a high level. Could go with a lower bonus than that to make the next two years balance out to what they are now (with the guarantee/bonus being the main difference), but I just chose an example that I believe would be acceptable to him.
A way to lower the bonus, too, would be to guarantee some of the base in the last couple of years. The total guarantee could be in the $30 million range without the bonus having to be, which would allow the second-year cap hit to come down to the point where it actually benefits the team at little. Say you make the signing bonus $20 million, then guarantee $2 million base next year (lowered from $13 million, which is not guaranteed at this time) and $4 million in base the next two years. That would increase his cap hit this year to $16 million and lower his cap hit next year to $17 million (a savings of $1 million over his projected hit for the next two years). Although Martin's restructure bonus is prorated through 2024, the only guaranteed money he has left that is coming to him is a $1 million roster bonus next year. Higher salary guarantees the last couple of years could lower the hit over the next two years even more if we want to use that to free up some cap space.
The only real problem with guarantees is if you think the player won't fulfill the contract. However, it would be a surprise if Martin isn't still playing well at 36. I figure that Dallas doesn't want to redo his contract this year, though, because it is planning to restructure him next year to reduce that non-guaranteed $13 million base. If he's still playing at a high level, an extension would be in order then.
