Red Sox: Five potential DH replacements if J.D. Martinez is traded
Now that JD Martinez has opted into his 2020 contract, the Red Sox could perform a sign and trade. Here are some possible candidates for a sign and trade.
With JD Martinez opting into the next year of his contract with the Boston Red Sox, payroll flexibility has diminished. There are definitely cheaper options on the free agent market, and trading Martinez could open up some room on the roster.
If Martinez were traded, he’d leave quite a large pair of shoes to fill as he averaged 117.5 RBI’s, 39.5 homers, and a .317 batting average in his two seasons in Boston. Those are some hot numbers for any player!
While there is likely no player on the market who can put up those numbers, there are some lesser options that should come for much less money. If he were traded, it could be a blessing as it opens up more money for signing Mookie Betts to an extension and allows for more money to be saved on the 2020 payroll.
While Martinez’s damaging bat can be replaced internally, likely with Bobby Dalbec, it would make sense for the Red Sox to scan the free agent market. Luckily, there are many DH and defensively lacking, offensively gifted, options that Boston can look to ink this offseason.
Regardless, here are five prime candidates to take over Martinez’s roster spot if Chaim Bloom were to trade him.
Moustakas
Mike Moustakas was forced to sign a 1-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers headed into 2019. After a solid 2018 season in which he swatted 28 home runs, he followed it up with a 35-homer, 2019 campaign.
Looking for a multi-year deal, Moustakas can take over the DH spot and shouldn’t be too pricey for the Red Sox. He is in line for a 2 or 3-year deal, and while he won’t provide production quite like Martinez, he can slot nicely into the 5th or 6th spots in the order.
Another plus to signing Moustakas would be that he provides veteran experience. Moustakas is a winning ballplayer, part of the World Series-winning 2015 Kansas City Royals and a part of the 2018 Milwaukee Brewers team that forced the Dodgers to go to a Game 7 in the NLCS. He has big-league experience that he can pass down to an already playoff exposed, young Red Sox core.
Moustakas has shown defensive mobility and can slide into first or second base, two spots the Red Sox lack depth in. If Chaim Bloom ultimately decides to sign him, expect a 30-homer season and about an .800 OPS.
Overall, Moustakas wouldn’t make the Red Sox sink or float in 2020 but would be a nice pickup and replacement to fill Martinez’s footprint. Unfortunately, the Brewers seemed to utilize Moustakas very well in 2018 and 2019, and will likely return there.
Ozuna
Marcell Ozuna was once a defensive monster on the field. Shoulder troubles have derailed his defensive abilities and now he is a rather weak left fielder. Luckily, he can still mash. Slugging his way to a 107 OPS+, Ozuna doesn’t seem like a great hitter on the surface.
However, in an article on MLB.com, they go in-depth covering how Ozuna was one of the unluckiest hitters in 2019 and is actually one of the better hitting free agents available. With that in mind, if the Red Sox picked him up, Fenway’s Green Monster could end up giving his production a big boost.
Ozuna is not a good outfielder anymore, especially when you look at his arm. Lucky for him, the Red Sox have one of, if not the best, outfields in baseball, with all three getting nominated for Gold Gloves. Because of the Red Sox already great defensive outfield, it will save opposing teams from exposing one of Ozuna’s weaknesses.
He is line for a 3-year deal, with an AAV around $11-14 million. The Red Sox can definitely afford that, especially if Martinezs $23.75 million coming off the board.
Ultimately, the Cardinals have loved having Ozuna command left field the past two years and will likely try to keep him. Unfortunately, it seems as if the Red Sox would just be outbid on this one.
Donaldson
Josh Donaldson reunited with his good buddy, Alex Anthopoulos, last offseason, signing a 1-year, $23 million dollar contract with the Atlanta Braves. Donaldson rebuilt his value and is now set to get a multi-year deal with big bucks.
After only playing 52 games in 2018, the former MVP flipped the script by playing 155 games and producing a 6.1 WAR season. Donaldson is soon to be 34 years old, so teams may be cautious. Donaldson will also have a qualifying offer attached to him.
Because this may be Donaldson’s last shot at a multi-year deal, the Red Sox may be able to swoop in and get him to sign a contract for less than what he’s really worth. Owning a career 136 OPS+, the foot-steps of Martinez may not be as large for Donaldson to shadow.
Rafael Devers, the current Sox third baseman, can learn from the former MVP how to improve defensively and offensively. Donaldson can be a mentor to the young duo on the left side of the infield.
Overall, Donaldson showed he still has some gas left in the tank and the offers he receives from teams will reflect that. Ultimately, a team will have their heart set on the third baseman and make him an offer he can’t resist.
The Cardinals, who advanced to the NLCS, may sign Donaldson to put themselves over the top. They will receive fierce competition from the Braves who loved his bat in the middle of the order in 2019.
Abreu
Jose Abreu was almost signed by the Red Sox when coming over to MLB, with the Chicago White Sox slightly outbidding them. Dave Dombrowski seemed to always want to trade for Abreu. Never happened. Now Abreu is a free agent and the Red Sox have a chance to sign him.
Abreu led the American League with 123 RBI’s in 2019 and had a productive season, posting a 119 OPS+. He’s beloved in Chicago and is likely to return as he is the mentor to this up and coming White Sox team.
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While it is the most probable situation that Abreu returns to the south side of Chicago, it is not impossible that he comes over to the east coast to help deliver a championship to Boston.
The White Sox will likely offer a deal around 3 or 4 years with an AAV of about $12 million. For Abreu to depart he would likely need an extra year or a raised AAV. Basically, he would have to be blown away by another offer.
While I’m sure in years past, the Red Sox could offer up a deal like that, now with the payroll umbrella that the Red Sox live under, it seems unlikely that they could offer something similar.
Unfortunately, it seems like the stars won’t align once again.
Encarnacion
Edwin Encarnación was traded to the New York Yankees from the Seattle Mariners at the beginning of the 2019 season. While with the Yankees he crushed 13 taters, and he ended up swatting 34 on the season. Encarnación has now hit 30+ homers in 8 straight seasons. If you want to chat about consistency, talk to this guy!
Encarnación had an option for 2020, which the Yankees ended up declining. Little did they know, he could end up being a cheaper designated hitter for Boston.
A veteran player, who has plenty of postseason experience, Encarnacion is still demolishing baseballs at 36 years old. Martinez had a few great seasons but Encarnación has been one of the most feared hitters in the league for the past eight years and counting. He has a career 125 OPS+ and his 2019 OPS+ was 132. Encarnación still has lots of pop in his bat and can definitely be useful to the 2020 Red Sox.
Not many teams are in the market for a DH, so Encarnación could come cheap for the Red Sox. A 2-year deal with low AAV or a 1-year deal with a higher AAV could be the two options the Red Sox offer to Encarnación.
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Could you imagine if Encarnación leaves the Yankees for the Red Sox and then he crushes the Yankees dreams in the 2020 postseason? You can only imagine.