Former AL home run champ JD Martinez reveals why he chose to ink a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers

If you look at the league over the past five years, JD Martinez is a name that cannot be easily glossed over. With 130 long runs since 2018, Martinez is among the few with the most home runs in baseball during that time span.

Unfortunately, for the Boston Red Sox, who finished bottom of the AL East last season, Martinez was another casualty of the 2022-23 offseason. Alongside his former teammate Xander Bogaerts, Martinez will be heading west this spring. His free agency came after the expiration of a $19.3 million extension with the Red Sox following the 2022 season.

"200th career home run for JD Martinez!" - @ Baseball Bros

This past offseason, Martinez penned a one-year contract worth $10 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Apart from a short stint with the D-Backs in 2017, it will be the first time Martinez will play for a team in the National League in his 13-year career.

Speaking to SportsNet LA at the Los Angeles Dodgers spring training facility in Arizona, Martinez was asked why he chose to sign with the Dodgers. Martinez had a quick answer, and pointed to the undeniable fact that the Dodgers have won their division every season since 2013.

"JD Martinez says he chose to play for the Dodgers because he wanted an opportunity to win" - Talkin' Baseball

Martinez, who won a World Series ring as a member of the Boston Red Sox over the Dodgers in 2018, also spoke on his strong desire to win another World Series. The year he won the World Series, Martinez led the AL in RBIs and total bases with 130 and 358, respectively.

Martinez normally plays DH but has been known to make the odd appearance in the outfield. Should he take a position in the outfield, he will be flanked by Mookie Betts, one of the best centerfielders in the game. JD Martinez and Mookie Betts spent two years as teammates on the Red Sox from 2018 to 2019.

JD Martinez to provide a much-needed insurance to the Dodgers' firepower

The Dodgers hit 847 RBIs as a team in 2022, more than any other team in the MLB. This was largely due to the combination of Betts and Freddie Freeman and solid depth in their lineup. However, a resurgent San Diego Padres means that this team cannot be as complacent as they have gotten used to being.