Red Sox, J.D. Martinez finalize $110M contract

It took an extra week but the Red Sox finally got the big bat for the middle of their lineup they lacked last season.

Slugger J.D. Martinez and the Red Sox finalized a $110 million, five-year contract on Monday, a week after the sides agreed to the deal pending a physical.

“It’s been a long process. I’m happy to just put everything behind me and be here today,” said Martinez, flanked by his agent Scott Boras and Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, at a Monday morning news conference at Boston’s spring training complex.

“I’m excited for the task at hand. I know this historic franchise and this organization, winning is No. 1 and bringing a championship back to Boston is the ultimate goal. I’m happy to now be a part of it.”

Martinez gets $27.5 million in each of the next three seasons and $19,375,000 in each of the final two. He can opt out after the second, third or fourth seasons, and there is a $2.5 million buyout if he opts out after 2019.

In 2017, the first season after former designated hitter David Ortiz’s retirement, the Red Sox hit just 168 home runs, fewest in the American League and better than only the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. Boston’s .407 slugging percentage was 26th in baseball, better than only the Los Angeles Angels in the AL.

The Red Sox hope Martinez can help the team improve those stats, returning them to where they were during Ortiz’s tenure.

Martinez has primarily been a right fielder in his career, but with Boston he will serve as the primary DH, with Hanley Ramirez splitting time with Mitch Moreland at first base.