Could the Dodgers Make a Risky Play for a Potentially Big Reward with JD Martinez?
One of the biggest decisions that the Dodgers will have to make this offseason is what to do with slugger J.D. Martinez. He will be a free agent after signing his one-year deal last offseason.
Martinez put together a special year with the Dodgers, and now he looks to be getting the chance to receive a big contract this winter. However, that payday may not be coming from LA despite the great season he just had.
“It’s a market that Martinez should be at least near the top of. A multiyear deal seems like a strong possibility. Something that could hinder his market, however: The Dodgers can still give Martinez the qualifying offer (a one-year deal worth approximately $20.5 million), meaning whoever signed him would have to surrender a draft pick to Los Angeles. The Dodgers will have up to five days after the World Series to make that decision.”
The biggest issue with the Dodgers giving him the qualifying offer is that it could end up blocking the designated hitter spot if they were to sign Shohei Ohtani. LA has wanted Ohtani in Dodger Blue for a long time, and they likely aren’t going to do anything to jeopardize that chance until it’s clear he isn’t signing with them.
"Then, there’s the half-billion-dollar elephant in the room. The Dodgers will be in the Shohei Ohtani market, a pursuit that likely would come ahead of any potential reunion conversation with Martinez, particularly since carrying both on the same roster doesn’t seem feasible."
While the team would love to keep Martinez, or get a draft pick for him, it makes sense to not extend the offer to him. Another team will sign him, or maybe he will return to Los Angeles if they miss out on Ohtani. But they can’t block that chance under any circumstances unless they plan to use Martinez differently this coming season, which isn't likely.
His time with the Dodgers may be coming to an end, but it won't be forgotten. It was a mutually beneficial partnership, even if it only lasted for one season.
