Dodgers All-Star Free Agent Talking With NL East Squad: Report
We are less than 15 days away from the start of the 2024 season and for the most part, the Los Angeles Dodgers are as set as they possibly can be
While the Boys in Blue added premium talent throughout the roster, it came at a cost. Los Angeles lost some talented players from last season, including their 2023 All-Star designated hitter, J.D. Martinez.
The likelihood of Martinez returning to Los Angeles is non-existent as they have a designated hitter for the next ten years in Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers have moved on, and Martinez is looking to move on.
Surprisingly, he is still a free agent with less than 20 days until Opening Day for 28 other MLB teams.
However, that could all change in the coming days. Martinez has been linked to a handful of teams, and a new one emerged. According to MLB Network contributor Craig Mish, Martinez and the NL East, Miami Marlins have had recent discussions.
Among the other teams he's been linked to are the San Francisco Giants, the New York Mets, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Seattle Mariners, to name a few.
Although Martinez is coming off a resurging year with the Dodgers, teams are hesitant to sign the 36-year-old, possibly because he is 36. The righty slugger can still provide a boot to an offense that needs it, and he may be a lot cheaper as the MLB season approaches.
He's coming off a season where he had 33 home runs, his most since 2019, and hit .271 with a .572 slugging percentage. A team like the Marlins could benefit from his talent, as they look to ride the wave they were on last season.
