NL West Rival Looking Into Signing Two Former Dodgers This Winter, Says USA Today Insider
As we saw this past year in the playoffs, the Arizona Diamondbacks look like a legitimate contender within the NL West for the foreseeable future.
The franchise boasts several budding stars and a strong farm system. Not to mention, the greater Phoenix area itself is a major plus from a free-agent recruiting standpoint.
Speaking of which, reporter Bob Nightengale mentioned in his Sunday notebook that the D-Backs could start pursuing two former Dodgers in the wake of the Shohei Ohtani signing:
"The Arizona Diamondbacks are hopeful of signing free-agent DH J.D. Martinez now that the Dodgers no longer need him, with Justin Turner also in play."
With Ohtani slated to be the everyday DH, the Dodgers reluctantly will let Martinez test the market. He was brilliant in Los Angeles last year -- hitting 33 HRs and knocking in 103 RBIs.
A 2023 All-Star, Martinez likely will have a robust market. He's not only an experienced player, but he's also known for being a clubhouse leader. These are two facets the young Diamondbacks would love to add to their squad.
Turner also fits the bill as a clutch player at the highest level. And like Martinez, he's also an incredibly likable guy. Arizona could be in a situation where Martinez comes to be the DH, and Turner -- potentially heading back home to his native West Coast -- could play 3B.
These two moves make a ton of sense as it pertains to Arizona. For Dodgers fans, seeing either in Arizona -- particularly Turner -- would probably be a tough pill to swallow.
