Dodgers Rumors: JD Martinez's Future in LA Addressed by Top Exec
In what was likely the signing of the offseason, the Dodgers got all they could from veteran slugger J.D. Martinez this season. He joined LA on a one-year, $10 million deal last offseason to help boost his value across the league, and he did that and more.
Martinez was one of the more productive members of the Dodgers offense that set records this season, but his return to the team remains unknown at this point. The team didn’t offer him a qualifying offer, so they won’t get anything in return if he were to leave the organization this winter.
President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman gave his thoughts on Martinez and expressed that it’s far too early to know what will happen in free agency.
“J.D. was great for us obviously – an impact hitter in the batter’s box, was great in our clubhouse and from our standpoint can definitely see real scenarios in which we are continuing that conversation,” Friedman said. “But at this point, it’s just too early to know which direction we’re going to go with our position-player group. But obviously, he was a big part of our success last year.”
LA would love to bring Martinez back, but only if they aren’t able to land two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is the priority for the Dodgers this offseason, and he would fill the designated hitter spot in the LA lineup.
Martinez had a great year with the Dodgers, hitting .271 with 33 home runs and 103 runs batted in. He helped unlock this offense by providing a true power-hitting right-handed bat in the middle of the order, but it may not be enough to see him return.
But if the team fails to sign Ohtani, they will then pivot back toward Martinez if he is still available. The two sides worked well together, but Ohtani is in a different class of player that the Dodgers have to go after first.
