Some of the top MLB free agents are no longer available after Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto inked contracts with new organizations. But that doesn’t mean other teams aren’t still trying to improve their rosters for next season, like the Los Angeles Angels and New York Mets.
Both the Angels and Mets are looking to bounce back from disappointing seasons that ended without a playoff appearance. Neither is expected to make major splashes at this point of the offseason, but there is still one big name that could make a major impact in 2024.
Once again a free agent after signing another one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, six-time All-Star J.D. Martinez is still looking for a new team. Returning to the Dodgers for a second season is always a possibility too.
Yet, as Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports, the Angels and Mets are digging around the market for Martinez.
Although he used to handle corner outfield duties, Martinez only saw 12 innings in the outfield in 2023, none in 2022, and 36 games in 2021. At this point, the three-time Silver Slugger does his damage as a designated hitter. Yet, after slugging 33 home runs and finishing with an OPS+ of 134 in 2023, Martinez has shown he is still plenty productive with his bat.
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