Back in July of 2017, the Red Sox tried trading for J.D. Martinez. At least that's what former Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told the designated hitter.
No dice. Martinez went from Detroit to Arizona.
"He told me," Martinez told WEEI.com when asked about the near-acquisition by Dombrowski. "I don’t know what happened. I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of happy I went to Arizona. You think the way I hit the ball to right, it helps me out in Arizona and going into my contract year … Everything happens for a reason."
It all worked out, at least for Martinez. The free-agent-to-be went on to hit 29 home runs in 62 games for the Diamondbacks, paving the way for current deal with the Red Sox.
(By the way, none of the three prospects the Tigers got in return for Martinez have done much of anything.)
But along the way, Martinez also gained a new appreciation for the impact that a trade deadline acquisition (such as himself) can have on a team. It's something that has been top-of-mind in recent days as his Red Sox storm toward Friday's deadline.
"I feel like it’s always exciting when you get somebody new because it brings new energy. It’s just fun," Martinez said. "When you get somebody new, No. 1 as a team you’re excited because the organization is in on the run, and No. 2, when you get a new player he’s bringing a whole new energy because he wants to show his new team what you can do. You’re like, ‘I have to show these guys I can play.’ They’re excited because they are going from a team that wasn’t contending to a team that is contending."
It's a dynamic the Red Sox will now get with newly-acquired Kyle Schwarber, who was acquired from the Nationals late Thursday night.
And while Schwarber won't be thrown into the mix for another week or two due to a right hamstring issue, the excitement of an early-August series against the team just 1 1/2 games in back of you (Tampa Bay) - coupled with the new addition - has Martinez in a different frame of mind.
"It gets more fun. A lot more fun," said Martinez, who carries a .907 OPS and 20 homers into the three-game set at Tropicana Field.
"It’s a big series. It is. Any time we play these guys, any time you’re playing a team right there in the standings with you, it’s a big series. They got Nelson Cruz, one of the best hitters in the league. And they can throw the ball. It should be fun."