Angels May Have Some Competition in Sweepstakes to Land DH J.D. Martinez
One player who has been on the Los Angeles Angels radar all offseason is slugger J.D. Martinez. The Halos have been connected with him for a while, and he could help them in their quest to break their long playoff drought if signed.
According to The New York Post's Jon Heyman, the Angels may have some competition to sign Martinez. It seems that he has been in touch with the New York Mets about a possible deal this offseason.
"The Mets have been in touch with J.D. Martinez, as The Post’s Mike Puma reported. But it’s unknown how much progress there is."
Martinez would fill the designated hitter spot for the Angels if the team was able to land him. He would provide another power right-handed bat in the middle of their lineup, giving them a strong offense.
Putting him into a lineup with Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon could create an offensive attack that would make opposing pitchers worried whenever they faced the Halos. Martinez brings plenty of experience to the table as well, and he could help some of the younger guys on the roster out.
Last season for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Martinez showed that he still could provide some pop in his bat. In 113 games, he hit .271 with 33 home runs and 103 runs batted in.
He would be the perfect replacement for Shohei Ohtani, and the Angels could benefit from signing him. However, Martinez may prefer to land with more of a contender, which could cause problems for the Angels' chances.
It remains to be seen if the Angels can cross the finish line with Martinez, but the interest remains. He put himself in line to receive a multi-year deal, and the Angels still have holes on the roster to fill.
