While Martinez hit .336 over 56 games to help propel the Red Sox to the wild card in 2009, he is currently batting a scant .235 with a .301 on-base percentage and just one home run, which was cranked on April 6.
There have long been questions as to whether Martinez is a fit behind the dish, both due to his struggles throwing out baserunners and whether the veteran can hold up as a catcher for the entirety of the season.
The Red Sox need Martinez to be a force with the bat — the reason he was acquired in the first place. Questions surrounded the team's ability to drive the ball entering the season, and the myriad of injuries have only served to exacerbate those questions.
Without Martinez doing what he does best, the Red Sox will continue to be streaky at the plate.
Is it time to consider if Martinez should be shifted to first base or designated hitter?
Not only might that serve to jump-start Martinez's bat, but it would get one of the team's better hitters — currently riding the pine — into the lineup.
Jason Varitek is tied for second on the team in home runs. With two doubles in tow, he paces the team with a .774 slugging percentage over 10 games and certainly seems to be in line for more playing time. Varitek has caught the last four starts of Josh Beckett, and also caught Jon Lester during Lester's turnaround start against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 28.
Over Martinez's career, he has posted an .827 OPS as a catcher. That figure rises to .876 playing first base, but is only .711 at designated hitter.
The splits were even more stark last season. He posted a .783 OPS in 317 at-bats as catcher, but was one of the league's better hitters when manning first base. Over 255 at-bats at first, Martinez hammered opposing pitchers to the tune of a .942 OPS.
Would a move to first or DH be all the 31-year-old needs to snap out of his offensive funk?
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