Miami Marlins show interest in J.D. Martinez

[Kevin Barral]

The top free agent bat left on the market has now been linked to the Marlins. Here's what to know about J.D. Martinez and the possibility of a deal getting done.

On Friday, Craig Mish of SportsGrid reported that the Miami Marlins showed interest in designated hitter J.D. Martinez. They had "recent discussions" with the six-time All-Star free agent, but there's a question of how he'd fit with the current Marlins roster and whether the Marlins are comfortable giving him the two-year deal he's looking for. 

Martinez, 36, just had himself a revival season with the Los Angeles Dodgers slashing .271/.321/.572/.893 with 33 home runs, 103 RBIs and a 135 wRC+. His hard-hit rate was higher than ever, though so was his strikeout rate. The Miami native has a career .287/.350/.524/.874 slash line.

But defensively, Martinez is pretty much a full-time DH at this point, playing only three games (one start) in left field since 2022 when the DH became universal. Marlins manager Skip Schumaker has spoken about the team's plan to use a DH rotation, including Josh Bell and Jake Burger.

The addition of the right-handed hitter would give the Marlins an experienced and consistent offensive upgrade. He uses the whole field and has proven he can hit for power even in pitcher-friendly ballparks.

The only recent concern for Martinez would be his lack of plate discipline, which led to his career-worst strikeout issues. It also could be damaging to the Marlins defense if he clogs up the DH spot every day.

With less than three weeks until Opening Day, the Marlins have leverage in these negotiations and may be waiting for Martinez to drop his asking price and settle for a cheaper one-year deal. It's unclear what other teams are still in the mix for Martinez—the Dodgers have moved on and so have the Giants, who previously made an offer to him before reaching a deal with Jorge Soler instead. 

This signing would certainly help the Marlins' 2024 postseason chances, even if the fit isn't perfect. 

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