It may come as a surprise to some of you, but Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off the MLB regular season against the rival San Diego Padres this morning in South Korea.
Commissioner Rob Manfred has his fair share of critics for that head-scratching decision. But that’s a story for another time.
"I think Major League Baseball Opening Day should be here. We're trying to grow the game but don't lose sight of continuing to grow it here, or regrow it here… It's 3am in LA when the game started, you want to appeal to Dodgers fans too."
-DP on starting MLB season in Seoul pic.twitter.com/1Q41FDKOqB
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) March 20, 2024
The fact of the matter is the REAL Opening Day is still a week away for most teams.
One of the biggest storylines throughout spring training has been the lack of interest in some pretty significant players who remain available on the free agent market.
The biggest fish in that pond, Blake Snell, recently decided to sign with the San Francisco Giants.
Fellow big-name pitcher Jordan Montgomery is expected to find a home any minute now. (We think…)
We got actual Major League Baseball before Jordan Montgomery signed pic.twitter.com/7zssWQWEWl
— Addison (@YankeeWRLD) March 20, 2024
However, a respected veteran hitter also remains up for grabs, and that of course is the well-traveled J.D. Martinez.
Fresh off a 33 home run season, Martinez is still searching for his next team.
Most home runs, last 96 games played in 2023:
Matt Olson, 36
Shohei Ohtani, 36
Aaron Judge, 33
J.D. Martinez, 32Yeah, this is a J.D. Martinez post. pic.twitter.com/qosHH2QO9B
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) March 17, 2024
According to the New York Post, the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels are seen as the favorites to land the six-time All-Star.
For the Mets, the upcoming 2024 season is anticipated to be one of transition, prioritizing player development over immediate contention.
Don’t believe it. Just the agent getting desperate. I’d love him behind Pete but I doubt they’re willing to spend money on him and not on another pitcher
— John (@jedimet1) March 12, 2024
FanGraphs estimates the Mets competitive balance tax payroll at a staggering $328.3 million, surpassing the $297 million threshold known colloquially as the “Steven Cohen tax.”
With this being their third consecutive year exceeding the threshold, the Mets face a hefty 110% tax rate on every dollar spent beyond $297 million.
Hence, any potential deal with Martinez, such as a $15 million contract, would incur an additional $16.5 million in taxes.
Nah they are not trying to spend money. Clearly they are resetting their payroll
— OngoMets (@MetsOngo) March 16, 2024
Martinez reportedly turned down a one-year, $14 million offer from the San Francisco Giants earlier in the offseason, leading the Giants to pursue Jorge Soler to fill their designated hitter needs.
Unlike Montgomery and Snell, Martinez, a client of super-agent Scott Boras, isn’t in a position to command a long-term deal at 36 years old.
Back to the Red Sox makes sense tbh
— Aiden (@AidenBrigugs) March 19, 2024
Following a successful (but frustrating) tenure with the Boston Red Sox, Martinez had a very solid 2023 season with the Dodgers, earning a spot in the All-Star Game.
Despite his age, Martinez still offers plenty of value at the plate.
The @Mets are reportedly interested in J.D. Martinez – would it make them a playoff contender?
▶️ https://t.co/vThTEDJzrS pic.twitter.com/nyUrBpSRe2
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) March 13, 2024
Where do you think Martinez will end up?
What type of contract do you think he’s deserving of???