Boston Red Sox: The year J.D. Martinez made us forget Giancarlo Stanton
After putting up an MVP-type performance in his debut season with the Boston Red Sox, J.D. Martinez has made fans forget they once desired Giancarlo Stanton.
Not all wanted Giancarlo Stanton in a Boston Red Sox uniform to begin the season, but he was a top option to provide some power in the middle of a lineup that lacked consistent power. So when the New York Yankees acquired him, it was all gloom in Red Sox Nation.
With his power numbers in Miami, Stanton seemed like the next sexy star in Boston. Losing out on him to their AL East rivals didn’t win Dave Dombrowski any fans. In fact, the Red Sox president of baseball operations had his eyes set on another slugger with big numbers, J.D. Martinez.
Coming off a season in which he hit .303 with 45 homers and 104 RBI between his time with the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks, Martinez had the numbers to be a nice consolation prize for the team, but he didn’t have the same star appeal as a Giancarlo Stanton.
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When the Red Sox finally signed Martinez, he was supposed to be a temporary fix to hold down the middle of the order. What ended up happening is the Boston Red Sox have found a player with a similar presence at the plate and in the dugout as David Ortiz.
The next clutch performer
The veteran slugger has a long way to go before he could be completely compared to Big Papi, but his first year in a Boston Red Sox uniform is actually better. He finished the season just behind Mookie Betts in batting average hitting .330 and solidified the middle of the order knocking in 43 homers and 130 RBIs.
J.D. Martinez also made history with those numbers joining Ted Williams and Jimmie Foxx as the only players in team history to finish the season hitting at least .330 with 40-plus HR and 130-plus RBI.
As a clear MVP-caliber season, J.D. Martinez has made Dombrowski’s decision a genius move and has made fans forget they ever desired Giancarlo Stanton. But, it’s just not the numbers. Martinez has had a great impact on this Boston Red Sox team.
It is his leadership and presence at the plate that has both inspired and motivated younger players on the team like Betts, Xander Bogaert and Rafael Devers. It is more that impact that makes him a frontrunner for league MVP and perhaps one of the greatest Red Sox free agent signings in recent years.
Just what the Boston Red Sox were looking for
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Described as a “monster” by Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, Martinez was the ultimate teammate and run producer in the team’s 108-win season.
"“He puts the ball in play, he stays inside the ball, he gives himself a chance,” Cora said back in July. “We’ve been talking about how he prepares, but his swing is one that on a daily basis, he’ll give himself a chance. Even when he’s a little bit off, he’s able to stay through the zone and hit the ball in the air and see what happens.”"
While no one seen this type of season coming, we really shouldn’t be surprised with how this man approaches each at bat. He is not only patient when he needs to be, he comes through in the clutch and has no fear of the big moment.
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He is exactly the kind of player the Boston Red Sox need in October. Giancarlo Stanton can have his pinstripes, J.D. Martinez has proven to be the better overall star.