The Miami Marlins are not being considered seriously as potential contenders for a top hitter.
The Miami Marlins suffered a loss this off-season with DH Jorge Soler departing. Soler’s formidable power in the lineup begs the question: Will the Marlins seek a replacement? Contrary to some lineup projections and recent articles discussing potential landing spots for J.D. Martinez, the Marlins seem to be underestimated.
Regarding Martinez’s viability as a DH option for the Miami Marlins, the MLBTR article deems it highly improbable. The author’s rationale hinges on the Marlins’ lack of free agent signings thus far, suggesting they’re unlikely to pursue Martinez. However, this reasoning seems flawed given reports of the Marlins actively pursuing free agents who ultimately signed elsewhere or remain unsigned.
The case for Miami to sign Martinez holds merit. As a Miami native of Cuban heritage, he aligns culturally with the team and could seamlessly fill Soler’s DH role. Given his age (36) and the advanced stage of the off-season, Martinez may settle for a one-year deal under $15 million.
While the article cites top contenders like the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Angels, other options like the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Guardians, and Chicago Cubs are mentioned. However, Boston’s situation with Masataka Yoshida at DH and Cleveland’s depth in the 1B/DH positions make Martinez signings unlikely. Chicago’s focus may be on other top free agents like Cody Bellinger or Matt Chapman.
The Angels and Mets appear logical choices, although the Angels may prioritize using the DH spot for resting injury-prone stars like CF Mike Trout and 3B Anthony Rendon. The Mets, despite having a gap at DH, may opt to conserve resources and reserve the spot for Starling Marte or Mark Vientos.
Considering the field and the potential fits, it’s puzzling why the Miami Marlins aren’t viewed as frontrunners to sign J.D. Martinez.
