Red Sox To Sign J.D. Martinez

[a700hitter]

It is about time.

 

[h=2]Red Sox To Sign J.D. Martinez[/h]By Steve Adams | February 19, 2018 at 4:26pm CDT

After months of negotiations, the Red Sox have reportedly reached an agreement to sign slugger J.D. Martinez. ESPN.com’s Pedro Gomez first tweeted that a deal was in place; Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports had tweeted that the sides were close. Martinez is represented by the Boras Corporation. Details remain unknown, but Alex Speier of the Boston Globe hears (Twitter link) that the deal is expected to be for five years.

Boston has been the primary suitor connected to Martinez for virtually all of the offseason — especially since their decision to re-sign Mitch Moreland effectively took them out of the Eric Hosmer sweepstakes. Martinez figures to slot in as the primary DH for the Sox but should see some occasional time in the outfield when any of Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley or Mookie Betts needs a breather. His addition calls the role of Hanley Ramirez with the Red Sox into question, as Ramirez now appears to be, at best, a backup DH and a part-time first baseman that is on the short side of the platoon.

Though the Sox have a substantial commitment to Ramirez already in place, that didn’t stop them from making a sizable offer to bring Martinez into the fold, and it’s not difficult to see why they felt he was a key piece to pushing into World Series contention. Martinez slashed a Herculean .303/.376/.690 with 45 home runs and 26 doubles in just 489 plate appearances last offseason. In all, an out-of-the-blue breakout with the 2014 Tigers, Martinez has been one of the game’s most feared hitters — as evidenced by the .300/.362/.574 batting line he’s logged in that four-year period.

Context-neutral metrics like OPS+ (149) and wRC+ (148) feel that Martinez has been nearly 50 percent better than the league-average hitter in that time, when adjusting for park and league. That 148 wRC+ ties him with Bryce Harper and now-former teammate Paul Goldschmidt for fourth in all of baseball over the past four years; only Mike Trout, Joey Votto and Giancarlo Stanton have posted better wRC+ marks in that time.

The Red Sox ranked 10th in the Majors in runs scored last season as it was, though their combined .258/.329/.407 batting line was below-average on a rate basis, and they ranked 27th in the Majors with 168 homers. Martinez will serve as a particularly potent upgrade in the DH department, as Boston designated hitters combined to hit just .244/.327/.419 last year.

[moonslav59]

It was probably a lock all along.

 

All the rest was just rigmarole.

 

[Jasonbay44]

5 years /$110 million. I am perfectly fine with that. About damn time

[iortiz]

Great addition!

[Bellhorn04]

YIPPEE

 

This makes my day.

 

Well done DD.

[iortiz]

5 years /$110 million. I am perfectly fine with that. About damn time

 

+1, mate.

[Carpin]

I understand it has an opt-out after 2 yrs, somebody know the details?

[Jasonbay44]

I understand it has an opt-out after 2 yrs, somebody know the details?

 

It’s suppsoedly front loaded contract with an ability for JD to opt out after two years

[Examiner]

I love the signing, but I'm a little confused. I don't know much about him, isn't he an outfielder? Will he be swapped in occasionally between DH and OF? MLBN has Mooreland and Ramirez platooning. That's crazy, Mooreland is no Hanley assuming Hanley is healthy. Hanley needs to be in there every day.

[cp176]

It is good stuff - bring on them Yanks now!!!

[Kimmi]

5 years /$110 million. I am perfectly fine with that. About damn time

 

My sentiments exactly. Way to go, Dave.

[Kimmi]

I understand it has an opt-out after 2 yrs, somebody know the details?

 

I read that there are actually 2 opt outs. One is after 2 years.

 

The contract is front loaded with JD making $50 mil in the first 2 years.

[Natick to NC]

Happy for Dave happy For JD happy for our fans !!!! Two opt outs makes it that much better !!

[Jack Flap]

Great contract. This is really the best possible outcome, IMO. Props to Dombrowski, who seemingly played his cards exactly right to the end.

[jacksonianmarch]

Front loaded with an opt out. I anticipate this will be the norm going forward. This is a 2 yr deal barring a massive decline. Smart with the window closing. This props it open.

[mvp 78]

Better than 7/200 that someone on here wanted last week.

 

Almost as if DD had a plan.

[jacksonianmarch]

I bet Dave offered the 5/110 all along and once he front loaded it and added the opt outs, Boras bit

[mvp 78]

Front loaded with an opt out. I anticipate this will be the norm going forward. This is a 2 yr deal barring a massive decline. Smart with the window closing. This props it open.

 

People said this anout Price’s deal.

[harmony]

It is good stuff - bring on them Yanks now!!!

With the touted offseasons of the Yankees and Red Sox, could the AL East represent the American League in the World Series for only the second time in nine years?

[Natick to NC]

I bet Dave offered the 5/110 all along and once he front loaded it and added the opt outs, Boras bit

 

The two opt outs are brilliant ...love this player fantastic addition ....the rivalry is now lit again !!! So excited for these two teams to clash again .Great for both fans and MLB

[Natick to NC]

Another shoe or two to drop ???????

[moonslav59]

$50M/2 before the first opt-out.

 

I'm assuming $60M/3 for the remaining 3 years with another opt-out at some point over the last 3 years.

[Bellhorn04]

Another shoe or two to drop ???????

 

Not necessarily.

[Bellhorn04]

$50M/2 before the first opt-out.

 

I'm assuming $60M/3 for the remaining 3 years with another opt-out at some point over the last 3 years.

 

The second opt-out is after Year 3.

[harmony]

Another shoe or two to drop ???????

I agree with Bellhorn that the Sox are likely done with major transactions.

 

I doubt the Red Sox want to break up their current outfield.

[mvp 78]

You’re welcome everyone. I believe this happened today because I downloaded a bunch of Springsteen after lunch and we all know he’s every baseball reporter’s favorite musician.

[moonslav59]

Another shoe or two to drop ???????

 

To the Sox? Doubtful.

 

We'll be up against the major penalty line after Nunez & JD sign.

 

I'm assuming JD's AVV will be $22M.

[mvp 78]

Another shoe or two to drop ???????

 

Lol nope. Maybe Watson, but nothing more than that.

[moonslav59]

The second opt-out is after Year 3.

 

What's unknown is how the last 3 years' $60M is split year to year.

 

If it's $25M year 3 and just $35M/2 remaining, there's a higher chance for an opt-out.

[harmony]

Lol nope. Maybe Watson, but nothing more than that.

Tony Watson has signed with the San Francisco Giants: