Major League Baseball

Francona must figure out how to fit in Martinez

Published Aug. 1, 2009 4:19 a.m. ET

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Victor Martinez was the biggest hitter who moved at the non-waiver trade deadline, and, of course, he went to the Boston Red Sox.

They have the big payroll. They have the great prospects. Their general manager, Theo Epstein, is baseball's Mr. July 31st.


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The Red Sox didn't NEED Victor Martinez. They got him because they could. And there's nothing wrong with that. Epstein parted with three good, young pitchers to acquire a versatile hitter who was very highly regarded on and off the field in his former place of business.

Martinez is going to help a Boston team that was — recent woes aside — already on its way to its sixth postseason berth in seven years. Martinez is a switch hitter, a commodity the rival Yankees have perpetually possessed in greater abundance. He has power, too, having driven home more than 100 runs twice in his career.

And as Epstein noted on Friday, he can enter the lineup at three positions: catcher, first base and designated hitter.

Great.

On the same day, Epstein also acquired first baseman Casey Kotchman, a tremendous defender, from the Braves for Adam LaRoche.

Doubly great.

But here's the thing I kept thinking about on Friday: Every time Martinez is in the lineup, someone who has won at least one World Series ring in Boston — Jason Varitek, Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell, David Ortiz — won't be.

I'm not saying that's a problem. Varitek, Lowell and Ortiz have shown signs of their advanced baseball ages. They need more rest. On most days, Martinez's bat will offer more than they're capable of providing in 2009.




Still, this is Boston. Status matters. History matters. And that's why Red Sox manager Terry Francona — a demonstrated master at handling egos and personalities — is in for two (three) delicate months. And that's to say nothing of Big Papi's inclusion on The List.

So, where will we be able to find Martinez on most days? Well, Epstein said Friday that he expects Francona to use Martinez in much the same way that the Indians did.

Over Cleveland's first 102 games this season, that meant catching exactly 50 percent of the time and playing first about 43 percent of the time, with the remaining 7 percent a combination of DH at-bats and time off.

When Martinez starts at first, Kevin Youkilis will in many cases move across the diamond and play third, where Lowell is still working his way back from hip surgery.

Don't forget: Youkilis won a Gold Glove at first in 2007. Yes, the Gold Glove can be an offensive award as much as anything else, but let's not overlook the fact that Youkilis has established himself as a very good defender at first.

We know Youkilis is a tremendous teammate, selfless enough to abdicate his position on a regular basis for the greater good of the Red Sox. But I can't imagine that's easy for him.

Epstein indicated that Kotchman will be used as a late-inning defensive replacement at first base when Martinez starts. Doug Mientkiewicz would be proud.

Martinez is expected to join the active roster on Saturday, probably at the expense of backup catcher George Kottaras. I could get nitpicky here and wonder who's going to receive Tim Wakefield's knuckleball once the 42-year-old returns from the disabled list. But it's not clear when Wakefield will be ready, and I suppose Epstein could manipulate the roster to bring Kottaras back to the majors if Wakefield returns before Sept. 1.

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