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.

J.D. Martinez through the years (HOU, DET, & ARI)

What some people forget about J.D. Martinez is that while he wasn’t always healthy, he did have the benefit of playing in Arizona which amplified his numbers substantially. 2015 was the only year in which he was able to play in at least 124 games. Martinez did not make any real noise in his first three seasons playing in Houston. It wasn’t until 2014 when people started to take notice.

2015 was a year in which Martinez finally established himself as one of the games better players before sliding back to mediocrity the following season. Last year was Martinez’s best. First, he started the year off in Detroit where he slashed .305/16/39/2 in 57 games. His power seemed to be coming through and at just the right time. On July 18, the Tigers admitted that rebuilding the team for the future was what they needed to do and off went Martinez to Arizona.

In just 62 games, Martinez was able to turn transform into an entirely different player slashing .302/29/65/2. In five more games, Martinez was able to slug 13 more home runs and knock in 26 more RBI’s. Did it help to play in a different stadium and perhaps be surrounded by teammates of a higher caliber? It certainly didn’t hurt. Who wouldn’t want someone like Paul Goldschmidt on their team? A first baseman who can hit 35+ homers, 120+ RBI’s and has the ability to steal 30+ bases and hit over .300? Yes, please.

J.D. Martinez’s numbers in Arizona

The month of September was one for him to remember for a long time. He tallied 40 hits in 99 at-bats and slashed .404/16/36/1 in 24 games. Martinez reached base in all but two games that month. That was precisely the type of closing out any player wants to have in a contract year. Boras was counting on that performance to make his client one of the most sought after during the offseason.

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What brought this barrage that we hadn’t seen before? Martinez clubbed a four-homer game and tied the record for the most home runs in consecutive games played at five home runs. One thing that Martinez loves is right-handed pitching. He destroys them. While a much higher average against lefties, it’s clear that when he wants to mash, he prefers them through from the right side.  If he could have it his way, he’d play at home, at night, and on grass against righties.

Players are going to start realizing that they won’t be getting big contracts because of one month. Yes, Martinez crushed it but under what circumstances? Martinez moved from the American League Central Tigers in a cold climate to the Diamondbacks in the National League West which has a much warmer climate. It’s Arizona. Hello?! Amped numbers are to be expected.

Let’s also not forget that the dimensions of the two parks are slightly different as Comerica Park is larger than Chase Field. Comerica’s left field is 345 feet compared to Chase Fields’ 330 feet. Deep center is also farther away in Detroit at 420 feet compared to 407 at Chase Field.  Right field has a four-foot variance between the two. Comerica is 330 feet in right, Chase is 334 feet.

The fact of the matter is, Martinez likes hitting balls in warmer climates. Short porches at Yankee Stadium and the Monster in Left at Fenway should help the numbers as well. Boston might not be the best place for him but only time will tell. The baseball world saw a major turn around in a player who does not scream home run machine. When you compare them to the Yankees sluggers, he’s five inches shorter and weighs 60 fewer pounds. I don’t think anyone can see him slugging 60+ home runs as a member of the Red Sox. It just is not going to happen.