Boston Red Sox 2018 player grades: J.D. Martinez

With baseball season over, it’s time to reflect on what was the 2018 season for J.D. Martinez. Here’s an evaluation/ report card grade for the first year Boston Red Sox right fielder/ designated hitter.

Perhaps the single biggest steal of the 2017-18 free agent class. A contract that wasn’t signed till late February and for just $110 million. A contract that helped propel the Boston Red Sox to quickly becoming one of the most dangerous offenses in baseball after being deemed one of the weakest.

J.D. Martinez helped establish Boston’s offense, thus the introduction of their season long tagline- “Do Damage”. It would be an understatement to say Martinez did just that.

One can say that Martinez was Dave Dombrowski’s winning lottery ticket with the season he introduced Red Sox Nation with. A very financially friendly contract for arguably the best power bat any team could have in their lineup today in baseball.

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However, it’s almost unbelievable to comprehend that a right handed bat that went .306/.376/.690 with a career high 45 home runs, would sit until February in the free agent market.

To find that kind of offensive production from a righty at just $110 million is absolutely bizarre. Something that’s gotta leave all other 29 front office’s scratching their heads knowing very well that they themselves could’ve made a run. One that would’ve landed you one of baseball’s most dominant bats last season.

However, on that late February date when news broke that Boston had landed Martinez, emotions were running in conflicted fashion. Granted, Boston’s history, most notably their recent hasn’t necessarily been the friendliest when coming to big financial agreements. Both Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval didn’t live out their full contracts after signing with high expectations prior to the 2015 season.

Yet, this was anything like the Sandoval/Ramirez situation in this instance. Here, the Boston Red Sox nailed it and the infamous excuse of playing under pressure in a major leveled market, didn’t come to play. Martinez walked into Fenway with expectations high, and did damage!

So just how dominate was J.D. Martinez last season? Well let’s take a look.

2018 Regular Season:

.330 BA, 43 HRs, 130 RBIs, .402 OBP, .629 SLG%, 1.031 OPS, 6.4 WAR

Martinez played in a total of 150 games last season for Alex Cora and the Boston Red Sox. Prior to the 2018 season, Boston was practically a laughing stock of a lineup when looking at how much of a downfall their experienced post the David Ortiz era. They finished dead last in baseball with home runs and were anything but a threat for their short term playoff appearance in October.

Nonetheless, Martinez changed that culture within a year.

2018 American League MVP, Mookie Betts himself attributes his adjustments/success for being a first hand spectator of Martinez’ noteworthy work ethic. Applying attention to detail to every swing on video during batting practice. “He’s had so much success, it’d be silly for me not to try and do it at least” Betts said.

Boston Red Sox. J.D. MARTINEZ. A. . 1B/DH

Not typical but something that certainly proved to payoff when watching the two MVP contenders battle it out in a tug-a-war towards the end of the season. You don’t usually see that with teammates. A 90’s Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire like battle right before us.

Next. Boston Red Sox 2018 player grades: Jackie Bradley Jr. dark

Thanks to J.D. fans got a glimpse of the effect he can have on young guys such as Betts, Benintendi, Bradley Jr, and perhaps even Rafael Devers. Serving as the savior for Boston in what many saw as a soon-to-be daunting post David Ortiz era. Something the Boston Red Sox and their fans can only await to see for years to come.

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