Much of the offseason focus remains on the so-called Boras four: , , and all of whom remain Ken Caminiti Jersey unsigned into Spring Training. Theres one other player from MLBTRs top 20 free agents who has yet to put pen to paper. doesnt have the earning power of his aforementioned younger counterparts, but hes another Boras Corporation client coming off an excellent platform year. Martinez was always going to face some market limitations. Hes 36 years old and has started one game on defense over the past two seasons. Some teams simply wont want to commit to an aging designated hitter. Still, theres a strong case that Martinez is the best unsigned offensive player. Much of Bellingers and Chapmans value lies in their defense. Teams that just want a short-term boost to the middle of their lineup could look to Martinez. Which clubs still make sense as a landing spot? Strongest Fits Angels: The Halos arent going to replace production at DH, but Martinez is the closest remaining approximation. has written that the Angels arent keen on bringing in a full-time designated hitter, reasoning that and might be better served rotating through the position to stay healthy. On the other hand, is so far the only addition to a lineup that was merely average despite an MVP season from Ohtani. Its hard to reconcile that lack of activity with claims from GM Perry Minasian and owner Arte Moreno that the team hopes to compete in 2024. Mets : Martinez has been most frequently tied to the Mets throughout the winter. The New York Posts Mike Puma a couple weeks ago that the sides remain in contact. has characterized those discu sions as due diligence, writing that New York is likelier to turn to 24-year-old to gauge whether he can be a part of a contending lineup in 2025 and beyond. It doesnt seem the door is completely closed, but the Mets are at least waiting to see if the asking price falls. Longer Shot Po sibilities Cubs : Itd be a surprise if Martinez is the remaining free agent whom the Cubs grab. Chicago has been tied far more often to Bellinger and Chapman, both of whom are cleaner fits on the roster. If the Cubs feel and can hold their own on the infield corners, that theoretically opens DH. Itd leave the coaching staff without much defensive flexibility, though. Boras and Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts yesterday after Ricketts was asked about Bellinger, although theres nothing to suggest thatll stop Chicago from engaging on any of Boras clients. Guardians : If Martinezs long stay on the open market drops his asking price, the Guardians could be opportunistic. Theyve taken shots at first base/DH types before, bringing in and in free agency. Last winters Bell signing didnt work, but that doesnt mean they couldnt have more succe s with Martinez. Cleveland has and highly-regarded prospect as the likely first base/DH tandem. Manzardo, acquired in last summers trade of to Tampa Bay, has yet to make his MLB debut. If Martinez takes a one-year deal in a similar price range as last years $10MM guarantee, theres a case for Cleveland to jump in and keep Manzardo in Triple-A for another season. Padres : As with a couple other teams in this tier, the biggest question for San Diego is their spending capacity. The Padres have at least one outfield vacancy and want to stabilize the back of the rotation. Theyre projected roughly $20MM south of the luxury tax threshold and reportedly plan to remain below that line. That still leaves open the po sibility of adding Martinez, but hed likely account for at least half their remaining CBT space. With multiple areas to addre s (and a desire to leave some payroll space for midseason help), going big on a DH is a tough fit. Red Sox : On paper, theres a fit for Boston bringing Martinez back. They were loosely tied to similar players in and . Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has been open about the desire for another right-handed bat. downplayed the fit earlier this month, though, writing that Martinezs unique methods werent universally loved within the walls of Bostons clubhouse during his first stint. Twins : If Martinezs market drops far enough, perhaps Minnesota could jump in. The Twins were middle-of-the-pack in production against left-handed pitching a year ago. They added on a $5.25MM deal to split time with between first base and DH. Martinez is a much better hitter than Santana, though, so theres a case for kicking the latter to the bench. The bigger obstacle might be . Hes moving back to center field after knee injuries kept him to DH work for the entirety of 2023. Would the Twins be confident enough in Buxton holding up physically to sign a DH? They have a projected payroll in the $124MM range after opening the winter with a reported spending target between $125-140MM. Already Addre sed DH A number of teams that couldve been suitors for Martinez have gone elsewhere to add a starting designated hitter. The Dodgers (Ohtani), Blue Jays ( ), Giants (Soler), Mariners ( ), and Diamondbacks ( ) all once made sense but are more difficult fits now. The Pirates never seemed likely to meet Martinezs asking price and re-signed . Milwaukees signing of was more of a direct addition at first base, but hes also a right-handed hitter without much defensive flexibility. The Brewers have a handful of outfielders who could push to DH at times and also agreed to terms with on a one-year deal as a backup catcher/DH option. (Milwaukee still hasnt announced the Snchez contract nearly two weeks after it was first reported.) In-House DH The Phillies ( ), Braves ( ), and Astros ( ) all have clear starters. The Orioles, Cardinals, Reds and Rays dont have a set DH but have plenty of options who could rotate through the position. The Yankees could theoretically pursue Martinez and move to the bench. Its hard to see that happening given the amount of money still owed to Stanton and the 110% tax theyd need to pay on top of Martinezs salary. The Royals signed to take a corner outfield spot and probably want to give regular run to and between left field and DH. Unlikely To Add A few teams have theoretical openings at DH but have already declared theyre unlikely to make any more notable acquisitions this offseason. Tigers GM Scott Harris said last week that the team doesnt have a ton of at-bats available for another everyday-type bat. Theyll likely turn to as the primary DH. The Rangers lost Garver in free agency but seem to be up against their spending limit. Last years #4 overall pick isnt far off the majors. Texas could rotate a handful of players through DH if they want Langford to get more seasoning in Triple-A. The Nationals havent done much this winter and could certainly incorporate another bat. GM Mike Rizzo more or le s last week, though. Martinez might prioritize a more obvious contender anyhow. Competitive Window/Payroll Questions The White Sox, As and Rockies are not going to compete for a playoff spot in 2024. Of that trio, only Oakland has completely embraced a rebuild. Chicago and Colorado arent aggre sively adding, though, and Martinez probably doesnt want to sign with a clear non-contender at this stage of his career. Miami lost Soler and hasnt acquired a new DH. The Marlins havent brought in a major league free agent at all. Its a disappointing offseason for the fanbase coming off a surprising Wild Card berth. Given their dearth of activity, its hard to imagine they bring in Martinez, even if hed be a fairly direct replacement for their biggest offseason departure. 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