If the LA Dodgers successfully recruited him last season, he can certainly name J.D. Martinez (37). Martinez made his major league debut with the Houston Astros in 2011, moved to the Detroit Tigers in 2014, and in 2015, he hit .282 38 homers and 102 RBIs, enjoying the joy of being selected as the first All-Star of his career. Martinez, who hit a career high with .303 45 homers and 104 RBIs while playing for Detroit and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017, successfully signed a five-year, $110 million FA contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 and hit the “Jackpot.”
Martinez, who hit .330 43 homers and 130 RBIs as soon as he moved to Boston, contributed greatly to Boston’s World Series victory by becoming the RBI king of the American League, and continued his upward trend by hitting .304 36 homers and 105 RBIs in 2019. Martinez, who also hit .286 28 homers and 99 RBIs in 2021, showed a drop in productivity with .274 16 homers and 62 RBIs in 2022, and naturally suffered a breakup when his five-year contract with Boston ended.
It was none other than the Dodgers that approached Martinez, who seemed to be on the decline. The Dodgers joined hands with Martinez for 10 million dollars a year ahead of the last season. The result was a huge success. Martinez hit home runs in Dodgers uniform, hitting .271 with 33 homers and 103 RBIs, and marking the third place in home runs in his team after Mookie Betts (39 homers) and Max Muncy (36 homers).
However, Martinez could not stay with the Dodgers. As soon as Martinez became a free agent once again after his one-year contract with the Dodgers ended, “Superstar” Shohei Ohtani also joined the free agent market, drawing keen attention from the Dodgers. A pitcher and batter, Ohtani is also a designated hitter. Martinez is also familiar with designated hitters. He played in 110 games as a designated hitter for the Dodgers last year and only played three games as an outfielder.
In the end, the Dodgers signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with Ohtani, which was tantamount to confirming his separation from Martinez. Martinez remains an uncontracted FA player. Although the Dodgers has left, it is drawing attention from multiple clubs, drawing attention to what he will choose. “The New York Mets and the Los Angeles Angels are interested in Martinez,” John Hayman of the New York Post said on the 1st (Korea Standard Time). 파워볼게임
In particular, attention is being paid to whether the Angels, who lost Ohtani, will recruit Martinez as a new designated hitter. On the same day, “CBS Sports” said, “With Otani joining the Dodgers, the possibility of Martinez reuniting with Ohtani has completely disappeared. Coincidentally, it can be said that Ohtani’s joining the Dodgers has opened the door for Martinez to the Angels.” In other words, Ohtani’s trip to the Dodgers could once again affect Martinez’s future.