Bedard: Despite batting split, J.D. Martinez will not be in Sox' defensive plans

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A few caveats before we get into a little discussion about J.D. Martinez and any possible plans for him.

First of all, the Red Sox are playing great baseball with the lead in the AL East over the Yankees, and the best winning percentage in all the majors. No moves should be imminent.

Also, it's the middle of a long season and there is plenty of time for Jackie Bradley Jr. to come back at the plate and, to a lesser extent, Andrew Benintendi. They're young, they're athletic and they'll be playing the outfield for the balance of the season — especially Benintendi — as long as nothing drastic happens.

And today might not be the best time to have this discussion since Martinez looked like a drunken sailor trying to track Bryce Harper's towering fly ball in the fourth inning of Tuesday night's 11-4 victory over the Nationals, which went off the wall (Martinez said he didn't have a chance – it went off the top of the wall).

But we will.

Overall, this isn't as much a discussion for the here and now, as it is possible food for thought in, say, September in a pennant race with the Yankees. Or a postseason matchup against a team where the Red Sox need to put runs up on the board, like the Houston Astros.

Basically, the discussion point is this: the numbers show Martinez is a much better hitter when he's playing in the field for the Red Sox instead of serving as the designated hitter (he went 2 for 5 with a double, homer and four RBI as the left fielder on Tuesday night). Just look for yourself:



 

 

Given some of the struggles some of the outfielders endure — mostly Bradley, not so much Benintendi — at what point does Martinez's hitting splits become too hard to ignore and Alex Cora has to think about whether or not his best Big Game Lineup features Martinez in the outfield, Bradley sitting and another big bat in the lineup at the DH spot?

I asked Cora last night after the game if he could foresee a time down the road — in a pennant race or in the postseason — where he would entertain the idea of Martinez playing in the outfield.

He didn't hesitate with his answer.

"No," he said with a laugh and a smile. "Nah."

Ok, fair enough. But why ... are those other players just that much better?

"The other three guys (Mookie Betts) are pretty good players too, and they’re elite defenders," Cora told BostonSportsJournal.com. "Nothing against him, he’s a good defender. But when those three are in the outfield, we’re above average."

To Martinez's credit, he echoed the comments of his skipper when he was asked if he could see a time when he asked Cora for more time in the outfield.

"Our best team right now is when Jackie, Bennie and Mookie are all out there," he said. "That’s our best outfield."

Martinez, though, wouldn't downplay the difference in his numbers as an outfielder and DH.

"I think it’s good, it keeps me warm, loose when I’m out there," Martinez said. "(Playing the field) is something I’ve done my whole career, so it’s something I’m used to. The DH part is new."

 

Since his delayed arrival with the Sox, Martinez has not been afraid to tell just about anyone about his desire to play the field.

"I still feel I can play defense and I like playing defense, I enjoy it," Martinez told BSJ in spring training. "That’s part of the game, DH is one of those positions you kind of transition to later on in your career, not at my age, really."

There was also this, soon after he signed with the Sox: "I take it serious. I get more pissed when I mess up in the outfield than I do at the plate. I take a lot of pride in it. I don’t feel like I’m a liability out there, as much as everyone wants to make it sounds that way. I’ve always been (motivated to prove that I can play out there). I’ve busted my butt (to play strong defense)."

Look, I'm not saying that Martinez is a good outfielder. And I'm certainly not saying the Sox should be sitting Bradley in favor of Martinez anytime soon (although I wouldn't be opposed to it) since they continue to play great ball.

But if Bradley is still struggling down the stretch — as the Red Sox play the Yankees 10 times in the final two months of the season — and in the postseason, and the Red Sox find themselves in a position to outslug an opponent, I don't see how the Red Sox can't look at putting Martinez in the field and making do with his defense.

But, at least for now, that seems like it's off the table — numbers be damned.