Hanley Ramirez, Mitch Moreland on board with addition of J.D. Martinez

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Maybe in June, when it’s apparent the playing time has been reduced and at-bats are scarce, it will be different.

But on a bright February morning, Mitch Moreland and Hanley Ramirez -- the two current Red Sox players most impacted by the imminent arrival of J.D. Martinez -- said all the right things about the acquisition of their new teammate.

“I think it’s great,’’ said Moreland. “He’s obviously a force. He had a great year (last year); he’s had a great few years here. So to have him kind of anchored in the middle of our lineup is going to help us.''

The plan is for Martinez to become the regular DH, with Ramirez and Moreland sharing playing time at first base. For now, Ramirez, thanks to his track record, will get more chances at first, with Moreland given spot duty and asked to come off the bench for defensive purposes.

“Once we get into the season,’’ said Moreland, “it’s not about our at-bats. It’s more about the wins and losses, I think. We’re don’t worry about that part of it. Like you’ve heard over and over again in here, this team, this group’s got one goal. How we get there doesn’t matter as long as we get there and make that goal happen.’’

Moreland re-signed with the Sox on a two-year, $13 million deal last December. Even then, he knew the Sox maintained an ongoing interest in landing Martinez, but it didn’t deter him.

“I didn’t look at (the prospect of Martinez signing) either way,’’ he said. “It was more about talking to my family and knowing that this is a great place to play. It’s a great baseball town and it’s something that I wanted to be a part of. It didn’t matter who they signed or where they signed after that, or before it.’’

Moreland said that the pending arrival of Martinez “lengthens our lineup…He’s definitely a force. It’s good to have him on our side.’’

“It’s pretty good,’’ said Ramirez when asked his reaction. “It’s a good bat (and worth) 40 homers. We’re trying to win this (thing). We’re just trying to get better. It’s not about (Ramirez and Moreland); it’s about the team, the Red Sox. It don’t matter. We just want to win.’’

The addition of Martinez could be especially problematic for Ramirez, since the latter needs 497 plate appearances to vest a $22 million option for 2019.

“You hit, you play,’’ shrugged Ramirez philosophically. “Nothing changed. That’s how the game is.’’

Ramirez has trained with Martinez in Miami for the past four offseasons and the two have “a good relationship. We just want to win. That’s good. It’s not one man, it’s not about at-bats. That’s not on my mind. You know what’s on my mind? Win. That’s it. Common sense. Nothing else matters.’’

The recent additions of Martinez and Eduardo Nunez have improved the Red Sox, and that has Ramirez excited.

“Our pitching (is good), our offense got better,’’ said Ramirez. “That’s good. Now we just have to get it done.’’

“The mindset has to be on one thing,’’ Moreland said. “Everybody in here has that put first, I think. The roles can be whatever. And roles change. You can’t control from now until the season starts or once the season starts to the end, roles change. You’ve got to keep an open mind, keep working hard and be prepared to play every day.’’