Boston Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez has been doing what he can to stay in shape during the shutdown, but he’s anxious and ready for the season to begin.
This will be a big week for the Red Sox and Major League Baseball as a whole. On Monday there will be a conference call between Commissioner Rob Manfred and team officials prior to submitting their proposal to the MLBPA this week. One man that is eager and ready to get the season started is J.D. Martinez, that is if the league does things correctly.
Martinez and the Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham recently spoke and the topic of the upcoming campaign came up, and J.D. shared his concerns. His big sticking point is that the MLB needs to take every precaution to protect the players, staffers, and personnel that will be needed to get the season going. As the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the planet, every measure needs to be taken to hinder its spread.
"“Everyone would need to get tested — players, coaches, the media, security guards,” he said. “If you come in the ballpark, you get tested. I’m not an expert on this virus but you need daily testing.”"
Martinez hit the nail right on the head with his request for daily testing. It’s the only way that the MLB can confidently say they’re doing as much as they can to keep everyone healthy. The city of Boston recently put in a mandate to cancel all large gatherings during the summer per Mayor Martin Walsh. Which leaves more questions than answers for the world of baseball.
If one of the league’s biggest markets has the handcuffs firmly placed on it, will there need to be federal involvement to get the Red Sox back on the field? Will they simply play nothing but road games for 2020? In a world where fans won’t be in attendance is there even such a thing as a home-field advantage? The biggest negative to that second plan would be keeping the players away from their families all season, which just isn’t right.
I’m not sure what will happen with that already forming headache but I’m sure it won’t be pretty. We’ve heard the rumblings that the first week of July is the strongest target for the league to get things fired up. The goal would have things approved by the MLBPA with enough time to give players a few weeks to get back into the swing of things before playing meaningful games.
Martinez expressed his desire to get things going and soon as the clock is ticking for him and he needs all the at-bats he can get. He has the ability to once again opt-out of his contract after this season and test the free-agent market. Considering the financial stress that has been placed on everyone thanks to COVID-19, his market may not be as big as even a year ago.
J.D. chose to forego his opt-out clause after the 2019 season and remain with the Red Sox for 2020. It was a wise move then as there wasn’t much of a market for him with many of the big names going for big-time money. As the day’s tick by on the calendar his value, as sad as it sounds, will go down, leaving the Red Sox as his best-case scenario.
"“I’m 32. I’m an antique. I need to be out there playing,” he said. “This sucks. Hopefully we’ll get a day and I can crank it up to get ready.”"
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That isn’t lost on the slugger and he knows every game is essentially an audition for either a prospective new team or even, a new re-structured deal with Boston. Since arriving in Boston ahead of the record-setting 2018 season, J.D. has been beloved by not only his teammates but Red Sox Nation as well. The latter component of that equation is not always easy to achieve.
Luckily the DH has been able to continue taking hacks at the plate thanks to his friend Eric Hosmer’s batting cage. Similar to Boston teammate Mitch Moreland, who built his own cage in his barn, it isn’t ideal but it’s getting the job done during the quarantine period. If it means J.D. is even a fraction of where he needs to be in order to dominate again in 2020, then I’m all for it.
"“He has a cage and I can hit there. It’s not ideal, but it’s fine. I’m in offseason mode,” Martinez said."
This season is going to be like something we’ve never witness before. With the possible new divisions, lesser games, and extended playoffs, 2020 will be one we won’t forget anytime soon. For J.D. Martinez and the Red Sox, it’ll be one they’re hoping can erase the poor showing they had the season prior.