Lovullo gushes over J.D. Martinez

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Torey Lovullo didn't have J.D. Martinez for a long time, but the slugger made a quick impression on the rookie manager.

Martinez, now the Red Sox' top off-season target as they seek to upgrade their lineup, was obtained by Lovullo's Arizona Diamondbacks in early July, and in about three months, had a huge impact on the team and the manager.

"It was such a fast-forming relationship which is a credit to him,,'' said Lovullo Wednesday at the winter meetings. "He's just a very humble, down-to-earth easy-going guy, that off the field became a member of our family, our Arizona family. And inside of the day-to-day activities, I don't think I've seen a more passionate, smarter hitter walk through his day-to-day activities. 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 and just watching the routine from the time the game started until he's finished with his at-bat never changed.

"So he's a very dedicated, routine-oriented hitter and it all translates. I couldn't say enough good things about what he did to show the rest of our group what it takes to prepare for the moment and expect good outcomes from the moment.''

Martinez recently turned 30 and should still be in the prime of his career. But, he's also the kind of player who could play at an elite level for an extended period of time, according to Lovullo. And giving him a long-term deal would not represent much of a risk.

"You have to look at the body and the mind and the soul,'' said Lovullo, "and if anybody would have predicted that Pete Rose would have played until he's 45 when he was 25, would have said you're crazy, as hard as he played.

"So I know that there's some very unique set of circumstances and I've seen how hard J.D. works, I think that given his ages going to play several more years. I know that he's got a very healthy, strong body. That's information that I get to see inside of the clubhouse, so I know that he's the type of guy that could last the length of a long-term contract.''