Former Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter J.D. Martinez is still among players without a contract as the 2024 regular season nears, a year removed from earning All-Star team honors.
The veteran slugger has been linked to several teams since the start of the offseason, including the New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays. Martinez turned down an offer from the Giants prior to their signing of Jorge Soler, because he didn’t favor the idea of playing in a non-hitter friendly home ballpark.
Reports indicate that Martinez is receiving more buzz among inquiring teams but contract offers have been below market, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post:
Word is several more teams are in, but some are presenting “low-ball” offers in case his market doesn’t re-develop.
Martinez batted .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs, 103 RBI, 61 runs scored with the Dodgers in 2023, keeping his name in the running as one of the league’s best power right-handed hitters.
Represented by agent Scott Boras, Martinez’s market is slowed exponentially as a result of multiple factors. Teams might not believe in his health, age, and price that Martinez and his camp are currently seeking, unfortunately, time is running out before the start of the regular season.
When will J.D. Martinez sign with a team?
The likelihood that Martinez signs a contract prior to the year is high, with teams figuring out the state of their rosters as Spring Training winds down.
His offensive output is an attractive addition, and interested clubs would probably want him to have enough time to get up to speed with live at-bats. Martinez is still a talented player at the plate, but the turn in cash handed out to veteran players has sparked a downturn in older free agents being signed.
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