Sports

It's official: J.D. Martinez signs with Red Sox

BOSTON — J.D. Martinez showed up at Red Sox training camp last week, but was finally announced as an official signing by the organization Monday morning.

The right-handed hitting outfielder, coming off his best offensive year, is entering his eighth Major League season.

In 119 games last year, split between Detroit and Arizona, Martinez hit 45 home runs and knocked in 104 runs with an OPS of 1.066.

He batted over .300 for the third time in his career, having achieved the feat in 2014 and 2016, as well.

In 2014, Martinez was acquired by Dave Dombrowski and the Tigers via a trade with the Houston Astros, who gave up on the Miami native after he hit only 24 home runs in his first three seasons.

Almost immediately, Martinez made an impact in Detroit, playing in 123 games and batting .315, with 23 home runs, 30 doubles and 76 RBIs in 2014.

He won a regular spot in the Tigers outfield and delivered consistently on offense over the next 3+ years before he was traded to the Diamondbacks last July. After arriving in Arizona, Martinez hit 29 home runs and 13 doubles in 62 games.

Dombrowski’s familiarity with Martinez (and his agent Scott Boras) made this signing more plausible, though the delay was tied into the league-wide standoff between clubs, who are looking to control salaries, and players, who are holding out for bigger contracts.

Gomez tweeted that according to a "reliable source" the contract is a five-year deal that Martinez can opt out of after two years.

MORE: REPORTS: J.D. Martinez signs with Red Sox for 5 years

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