The San Diego Padres have been notably quiet this offseason, not making any significant roster changes. They lost Tanner Scott to the Los Angeles Dodgers and missed out on Roki Sasaki, who also chose the Dodgers.
If they want to stay competitive in the National League West, the Padres will likely need to make a move. The Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Francisco Giants have all been active in improving their teams.
Ryan Finkelstein of Just Baseball predicts that the Padres could sign designated hitter J.D. Martinez to a one-year, $5 million contract with performance incentives.
Finkelstein suggests that if Martinez wants to extend his career and play for a contender, San Diego could be a viable option, especially with the Padres needing a designated hitter and potentially offering him a deal at a reduced rate.
Despite the Padres’ desire to lower their payroll in 2025, they can still field a competitive team, and adding Martinez could bolster their lineup.
Martinez, who is 37, saw a dip in performance last year, hitting .235/.320/.406 with a .725 OPS and 16 home runs, a significant drop from his 37-homer season with the Dodgers in 2023. A six-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, and former World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox, Martinez brings veteran leadership, which could be valuable for San Diego as they aim to bounce back from their NLDS loss to the Dodgers.
It remains to be seen if they will extend him an offer.
Leave a Reply