The Boston Red Sox officially announced Monday they have signed outfielder/designated hitter J.D. Martinez to a five-year contract.
Martinez met with the media Monday morning at a press conference in Fort Myers, Florida.
The slugger is expected to be both a designated hitter and outfielder for the team and told reporters that he is comfortable with either spot.
"I've been playing this game since I was a kid," said Martinez. "I'll continue doing the same routine I've been doing. Whether it is DH'ing or playing the outfield, that's part of the deal coming in."
When it came to his feelings about playing at Fenway Park, Martinez likened it to another sport.
"Football has Monday night. They say every night at Fenway is like Monday Night Football. I'm excited," he said.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he already has a feeling where he will be putting his new power hitter in the lineup.
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"He will be in the 3 or 4 spot," said Cora. "Not only can he hit homers, but his ability to hit for average... he's not only a home run hitter, he's a complete hitter."
Martinez, who has been signed through the 2022 season, will wear number 28.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said he has always been a fan of Martinez.
"We actually tried to trade for him. They would not trade him at that time," said Dombrowski.
Martinez hit 45 home runs last year between Detroit and the Diamondbacks, batting .303/.376/.690 with a 1.066 OPS. He began his career with the Houston Astros, where he never got it together at the major league level before his 2014 release.
After signing with the Tigers, though, he developed into a tremendous hitter, making his first All-Star appearance in 2015.
In parts of three years with the Astros, Martinez batted just .251/.300/.387 for a .687 OPS with a total of 24 homers. But in the four seasons since he left Houston, Martinez homered 128 times, the 10th highest tally in baseball. His .574 slugging average in that stretch was second only to Mike Trout's.
The Tigers traded him to Arizona before last year's deadline. He was even more effective there than in Detroit, smashing 29 homers in just 62 games.
Born in Miami, Martinez currently resides in Fort Lauderdale.
