BOSTON -- Entering the 2018 season, the Red Sox felt like they were missing one offensive piece. So then-president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski opened the wallet and gave free agent slugger J.D. Martinez a five-year, $110 million contract.
That deal ended Wednesday, the final day of the 2022 season. Martinez homered twice in Boston’s 6-3 season-ending win over the Rays. During the course of the deal, he was a four-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger winner and World Series champion who hit 130 homers in 637 games. The 35-year-old provided a constant presence in the middle of the Sox’ lineup and was, in many ways, a perfect fit for Boston. Unlike players Pablo Sandoval, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and others, Martinez’s time in Boston has been a smashing success.
That’s why Alex Cora, who has managed Martinez for four of the five years of the contract, wanted to give the designated hitter a curtain call in front of the Fenway faithful Wednesday. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Cora pulled Martinez back after he was introduced, allowing him to acknowledge the home crowd one last time before hitting free agency.
“He has been a horse. A caballo, like we call it in Latin America,” Cora said. “Since Day 1, he showed up and decided to change the culture in a sense. The way we go about it offensively. He changed this in ‘18. As soon as we signed him in ‘18, I knew that the organization took the next step. I think he earned every penny of that contract. He was always here. He worked so hard on his craft. I’m glad he had a great day today. We’ll see what the future holds.”
Martinez had a down year and won’t get another mega-deal in free agency but believes he still has something left in the tank and has said in recent weeks that he hopes to play for two more years. It appears the next chapter of his career will come elsewhere. Though the Red Sox don’t have a ready-made replacement in the designated hitter role for 2023, it appears Chaim Bloom’s M.O. would be to rotate multiple players through that spot in order to create the most roster flexibility. Unless Martinez’s market craters, he’ll likely sign elsewhere.
That doesn’t mean there’s any hard feelings on Martinez’s end. He is looking forward to becoming a true free agent for the first time since 2018 after deciding not to exercise opt-out clauses in his contract in each of the last three off-seasons. While Martinez is open to returning to Boston, he understands that it might not happen.
“It’s a business. I get it. I’m the first one to understand it...,” Martinez said. “Whatever happens in the future, happens in the future. I was making my decisions based on what I thought was the best when I had my opt outs. We’ll see where life takes me.”
Martinez wouldn’t rule out a Red Sox reunion. Before he hits free agency, though, he spends to spend plenty of time in his favorite place, fishing off the coast of Florida at Islamorada.
“There’s always a pathway. That’s a Chaim question. My famous line,” he laughed. “That’s a Chaim question and you’ve got to go ask him. There’s always a path. Right now, I’m a free agent. We’ll see where life takes me.”
If this is the end for Martinez in Boston, he leaves a resumé that will be hard to match for any big-name free agent who signs in the future. He called the last half-decade a blessing.
“Five years comes and goes, “Martinez said. “A lot of great memories here. Boston didn’t disappoint... Five years ago when I came here, I knew this was an amazing organization and it surpassed my expectations. It has been first class since I’ve been here. The fans are unbelievable.
“My passion meets Boston,” he added. “I was a guy that was written off early in my career, in the MLB draft, with the Astros. I’ve always said that whatever team gives me the chance and believes in me, I know I’m going to give them my all. I’m going to give every ounce of energy that I have. That’s what I do every day.”
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