Angels Continue to Be Linked to All-Star Designated Hitter

This DH slugger is up for grabs. Will the Halos bite?

The Los Angeles Angels need a bit more offense in their lineup, and that's being generous. 

The PECOTA projections released this week have only five American League teams scoring fewer runs than the Angels in 2024. Aside from superstar Mike Trout, this Halos lineup looks bland. 

One way to sprinkle it up is to sign a big-time bat — and one happens to be available in the free agent market. The Halos continue to be linked to him: six-time All-Star slugger J.D. Martinez. 

Multiple MLB experts like Gabe Lacques of USA Today and Mark Feinsand of MLB.com say Martinez to the Halos makes a ton of sense. 

Lacques: Los Angeles Angels – Their really weird offseason continues. — J.D. Martinez

DH

J.D. Martinez

 

Age: 36 

Like some others on this list, Martinez bounced back from a subpar 2022 (by his standards) to post big numbers in 2023, hitting 33 home runs with 103 RBIs and an .893 OPS in 113 games for the Dodgers. Los Angeles’ signing of Shohei Ohtani ended any hopes of a return to Hollywood for Martinez, who has been selected to the past five All-Star Games. 

Potential fits:



Angels, Mets

(per Mark Feinsand via MLB.com)

Martinez had one heck of a year with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023; however, it was a bargain of a deal for the Dodgers. He only got paid $10 million last year, and he outperformed his contract. 

He hit more than 30 home runs for the fifth time in his career and the first time since 2019. On top of that, he recorded more than 100 RBIs for the first time since 2019, as well. 

Martinez did no wrong at the plate in 2023. Given the Shohei Ohtani-sized void at designated hitter the Angels face in 2024, signing Martinez would instantly upgrade a position of weakness.

A deal only gets done if Angels owner Arte Moreno can again find common ground with Scott Boras. The superagent represents Martinez as well as Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon, who signed a seven-year, $245 million contract in Dec. 2019. 

Martinez won't cost that much, but he'll be a bit more expensive than he cost the Dodgers last season. However, if the Halos want to improve their 2024 roster, the Angels should set aside concerns about Martinez's age before spring training.