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Red Sox Predictions: Five teams that should trade for J.D. Martinez

By Tim Starr

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox grounds out during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox grounds out during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – JULY 23: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox rounds third after teammate Andrew Benintendi #16 hit an RBI single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 23, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – JULY 23: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox rounds third after teammate Andrew Benintendi #16 hit an RBI single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 23, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Angels

Mike Trout has been the best player in baseball since 2012. The Angels have never won a postseason game with the best player in baseball on their team. Trout will be on the team for more than the next decade so hopefully he will get a postseason win.

Joe Maddon was recently hired to become the Angels manager. Shohei Ohtani will be able to pitch in 2020. Trout will still be an MVP candidate. The Angels have a golden opportunity to slip into the postseason.

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With Kole Calhoun becoming a free agent, Martinez could play the field part time – right field when Ohtani clogs the DH spot, then DH the rest of the time. Martinez would be an instant addition to the middle of the order and lengthen an already powerful lineup.

The Angels would have to give up a prospect or two from the minors, but that is a small price to pay for the veteran leadership and production Martinez provides.

A problem with this trade may be that Maddon, the new manager, may not want Martinez on the roster. Maddon, one of the most versatile managers, may want to utilize the DH to get Ohtani in the lineup more and to rest players such as Albert Pujols (39 years old) and Trout, the MVP front-runner who got hurt to close out the 2019 season.

Also, there have been many rumors that Gerrit Cole is headed to Anaheim. The Angels payroll may not be able to handle the salaries of Trout, Pujols, and Cole plus Martinez’s.

Overall, a full-time DH may be too much for the Angel’s roster to handle. Also, the Angels have had a bad history of developing pitchers which may frighten the Red Sox.

Prediction: Angels upgrade their pitching rather than acquiring a big-time bat

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