The Detroit Tigers announced J.D. Martinez was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for a trio of prospects in Jose King, Dawel Lugo and Sergio Alcantara. None of the prospects are necessarily considered to be standouts.
Martinez figures to provide a boost for a Diamondbacks lineup that’s struggled against left-handed pitching. Entering play Tuesday, they rank 28th in the Majors against with a .660 on-base plus slugging percentage against southpaws this season, 29th with a .282 wOBA and last with a 65 wRC+.
Martinez is batting .305/.388/.630 with 13 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, 39 RBI and a 167 OPS+ in 57 games this season. He’s hitting .474/.556/1.105 with four doubles, six home runs and 11 RBI in 45 plate appearances against left-handed pitching.
Martinez missed the first seven weeks of the season after suffering a lisfranc sprain in his right foot during Spring Training, and was removed Monday night due to back tightness.
A recent report suggested the Dodgers were among the three teams considered to be a favorite to trade for the right-handed slugger. The 29-year-old is eligible to become a free agent this winter.
After the Dodgers swept each the Rockies and Diamondbacks in three-game series at Dodger Stadium, both National League West challengers went into a tailspin. The Dodgers enter play Tuesday leading the division by 10.5 games.
The Diamondbacks are mired in a five-game losing streak, while the Rockies have won two in a row but nonetheless are in third place in the division. Prior to getting back in the win column, Colorado went through a 5-15 stretch.
The Dodgers presumably will see Martinez in a Diamondbacks uniform nine more games this season.
