J.D. Martinez in Oct. 2017. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- The Sox will pay 110 million dollars over 5 years for free agent slugger J-D Martinez. It's the 5th-richest contract in Red Sox history, but for a 30-year-old who should bring some serious pop to a Boston lineup that ranked 4th-worst in baseball in home runs last season.
Martinez split the year between the Tigers and Diamondbacks and hit .303 with 45 homers and 104 RBI. He finished third in the game in long-balls, and first in slugging, OPS, and at-bats per homer at 9.6.
New Red Sox Teammates Expect J.D. Martinez To Thrive In Boston
Former Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo managed Martinez in Arizona and offered high praise of the vet at December's winter meetings.
"Inside of his day-to-day activities, I don't think I've seen a more passionate, smarter hitter," Lovullo said. "He studies, he watches as much video as I've ever seen. He understands how the pitcher's going to attack him. He has a game plan against every pitcher ... he's a very dedicated, routine-oriented hitter, and it all translates."
Martinez had 29 homers and 62 ribbies in 62 games for the D-Backs. The designated hitter figures to force Hanley Ramirez into a platoon role at first with Mitch Moreland.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports