AL East Star Wants His Team to Sign 2 Former Dodgers
The names still available in free agency are surprising, but general managers across the league just don't value designated hitters the same as players who can play in the field.
Some teams, like the Toronto Blue Jays, are still in need of some offensive power, and star shortstop Bo Bichette wants his front office to consider two former Dodgers.
In an interview with Sportsnet 590 The FAN in Toronto, Bichette said Justin Turner and J.D. Martinez as veteran bats that, "can really help not just on the field but off the field as well."
Both Turner and Martinez are free agents, however, both are in their late 30s and that just doesn't move the needle anymore, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic pointed out in a recent column.
"The usual caveats apply. Teams do not value DHs the way they do hitters who can also defend. Teams also are not terribly enthusiastic about players in their 30s, which most free-agent DHs are. Yet neither of those realities fully explains the stalled market."
Martinez, 36, had a great season with the Dodgers in 2023 but the signing of Shohei Ohtani signaled that the team was ready to move on. In 113 games, Martinez slashed .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs, and even made the All-Star team.
Turner, 39, impressed last season with the Boston Red Sox, but chose to opt out of his contract looking for more money. In his first (and potentially only) year in Boston, Turner slashed .276/.345/.455 with 23 home runs and 96 runs batted in.
With spring training around the corner, it is certain that these two will find a home somewhere. But the question remains: Who is willing to pay them?
