Red Sox: Why J.D. Martinez might actually not be the “answer” to fans’ prayers

J.D. Martinez has finally signed with the Boston Red Sox. As exciting as it may seem, here’s why he might not be the “answer” to fans’ prayers.

At the conclusion of the 2017 season, the Boston Red Sox knew they needed to go out and get a big bat. Rumors had begun to swirl that Giancarlo Stanton coming to Boston could be a distinct possibility. More rumors began to swirl of getting J.D. Martinez to Boston as well bringing back the dangerous one-two tandem that the team had in the early 2000’s with David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

Still, some questions loomed. Stanton ended up going to New York to play for the Bombers who are once again back to their old ways of buying the best players.

Martinez, on the other hand, has just signed a five-year deal worth $110 million with the Red Sox. Martinez is guaranteed $50 million in the first two years with an opt-out after year two. Not a team friendly deal. He should have been locked in for three years with a $23 million guaranteed each year and opt out in year four.

The original offer of five years and $125 million was not good enough originally for him or super agent Scott Boras who had told Sox brass that his client will wait until Spring Training to sign a deal if they cannot meet his demands. Personally, anything over $22.5 million annually would have been the most I would have gone. The Red Sox had to be smart and they ended up winners. Sorry, Scott, you did not win this one.

Dave Dombrowski is not going to spend $300 million like some clubs. Still, even with that amount of money invested in a club, it doesn’t guarantee you a World Series Title. See the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers, who came one game away from showing the nation that the best team was not the one with the highest payroll.