J.D. Martinez. (David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports)
The Dodgers signed J.D. Martinez as a power-hitting bat capable of positively influencing the lineup on and off the stat sheet like he did in Boston.
J.D. Martinez is heading to Los Angeles to reunite with former Red Sox teammate Mookie Betts.
The designated hitter and outfielder is set to sign with the Dodgers on a one-year deal reportedly worth $10 million.
Martinez and Betts led the Red Sox to the 2018 World Series together. They’ll try to do the same with the Dodgers in 2023.
J.D. Martinez will give the Dodgers a power bat and more
Martinez has been an All-Star four times in the last five years. His power numbers went down from his 2021 showing with just 16 home runs and a slugging percentage of .448.
The Dodgers will hope he can tap back into his form of a few years ago when he smashed 43 home runs in 2018 and 36 homers in 2017.
Fans in LA will be happy to hear that Martinez holds a career slugging percentage of .684 at Dodger Stadium. He has only played nine games there, but he has five home runs in those games. He’s also slugging .777 at the Diamondback’s Chase Field, .681 in total against the Padres and .672 against the Rockies.
Even if the 35-year-old can’t quite replicate those numbers, his value could present itself in ways you’d never see on a stat sheet.
For one, Martinez has World Series experience. As Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic pointed out, he’s also been credited with tutoring young hitters like Mookie Betts, showing them how to get the most out of their swing. If he was able to impart some of the same knowledge on the Dodgers’ youngsters, that could be huge for the team.
Martinez will have at least one year to make his mark in Los Angeles.