J.D. Martinez: Hips Don't Lie

greek_gawd_of_walks

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I'm out on JD. Nice that he could turn it around in the last month, but he didn't appear in the outfield once in 2022. A guy with a suspect bat (sub 700 ops over the last 100+ games) who will be 36 at the end of next year really shouldn't be in consideration for a roster spot IMO. Time to move away from positionless players.
 
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JM3

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Dec 14, 2019
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He didn't have any trade value because he was having a terrible year. But he flipped it a bit in the last month. Might be a sign that he's finally back to where he needed to be, physically.
He didn't have trade value in the off season either. If other teams valued him at $19.5m or more he would have opted out & that team would have just paid him that $ without having to give up a prospect.

Random side note - it's odd how similar he was in the last month this year to the last month last year (tiny bit better last year).

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jd-martinez/6184/splits?season=0&position=DH/OF&split=2.6
 

Petagine in a Bottle

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We don’t know that he didn’t have any trade value; reports suggest teams were interested but that the Sox were looking for a lot (a major leaguer and a top prospect). All we know is that he wasn’t traded. I agree with the conclusion that his potential trade value should have no influence on whether they bring him back or not.
 

Looch

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Jul 15, 2021
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JD served the Sox well over the years he was here, but this season his inconsistent, injury-hampered underperformance was so emblematic of the shitty season they had that moving on from him would be an important positive signal for the team as a whole. There are lots of tough calls to make about the current roster, but bidding JD adieu seems easier just to generate some néw energy and turn the page after this disappointing season.
 

scottyno

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Dec 7, 2008
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JD served the Sox well over the years he was here, but this season his inconsistent, injury-hampered underperformance was so emblematic of the shitty season they had that moving on from him would be an important positive signal for the team as a whole. There are lots of tough calls to make about the current roster, but bidding JD adieu seems easier just to generate some néw energy and turn the page after this disappointing season.
If they move on from him and replace him with someone that hits worse than he did this season how exactly is that a positive signal for the team as a whole?
 

Steve Dillard

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With Bloom being unable to get us under the tax (ironically by not trading JD), any QO pick would be only at the end of the fourth round (Xander and Nate, too). Definitely minimal benefit to taking the risk of making the offer to him or Nate.
 

ponch73

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If they move on from him and replace him with someone that hits worse than he did this season how exactly is that a positive signal for the team as a whole?
How difficult do you think it will be for Chaim to replace 16 HR in 139 games and a .789 OPS via a platoon that costs less than $19.35M?

This season, Dalbec hit 6 HR in 28 games with a .708 OPS in games started by lefties. He will cost $1M next season. (Ironically, Hosmer, who will cost the same or less as Dalbec had a reverse split with 2 HR and a .850 OPS in 27 games started by lefties this season).

Is there a righty masher we could find for less than $18M who could hit 10 HR in 111 games with a low .800 OPS? Joc Pederson, perhaps, who hit 18 HR and put up a .865 OPS in 97 games started by righties.
 

Philip Jeff Frye

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In a world where our team carries something like 14 pitchers on the roster, how feasible is it to have a platoon at DH? I know Dalbec can play some infield positions and Pederson, for example, can play some outfield, but 2 mostly DHs doesn't seem a very efficient use of limited roster spots.
 

ponch73

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In a world where our team carries something like 14 pitchers on the roster, how feasible is it to have a platoon at DH? I know Dalbec can play some infield positions and Pederson, for example, can play some outfield, but 2 mostly DHs doesn't seem a very efficient use of limited roster spots.
There are lots of creative alternatives to backfilling JD's 2022 production. Pederson might be good enough to be a full-time DH who plays the outfield on occasion. If he's available for less than $19M annually, it would be criminal for Chaim to offer JD a QO. I think bringing back JD (even on a reduced contract, unless he takes a 50-75% paycut) is a mistake because there will be better alternatives available.
 

Philip Jeff Frye

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There are lots of creative alternatives to backfilling JD's 2022 production. Pederson might be good enough to be a full-time DH who plays the outfield on occasion. If he's available for less than $19M annually, it would be criminal for Chaim to offer JD a QO. I think bringing back JD (even on a reduced contract, unless he takes a 50-75% paycut) is a mistake because there will be better alternatives available.
I'm certainly not advocating for JD's return, especially via the QO.
 

scottyno

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How difficult do you think it will be for Chaim to replace 16 HR in 139 games and a .789 OPS via a platoon that costs less than $19.35M?

This season, Dalbec hit 6 HR in 28 games with a .708 OPS in games started by lefties. He will cost $1M next season. (Ironically, Hosmer, who will cost the same or less as Dalbec had a reverse split with 2 HR and a .850 OPS in 27 games started by lefties this season).

Is there a righty masher we could find for less than $18M who could hit 10 HR in 111 games with a low .800 OPS? Joc Pederson, perhaps, who hit 18 HR and put up a .865 OPS in 97 games started by righties.
Who is still advocating for giving JD $19m? I said in another thread I'd be interested in him at around 10m with a possible option, will he get more than that in the open market? No idea.

Pederson might be an improvement, or he might hit like he did in 2020 or 2021. We also have no idea if he is interested in Boston, whereas we know pretty much for a fact that JD is interested in a return.
 

grimshaw

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For a GM with a track record of signing players with positional flexibility, along with changes to the game favoring more athletic types, I would be very surprised if much money was invested for that "position."
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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In a world where our team carries something like 14 pitchers on the roster, how feasible is it to have a platoon at DH? I know Dalbec can play some infield positions and Pederson, for example, can play some outfield, but 2 mostly DHs doesn't seem a very efficient use of limited roster spots.
By rule, teams can't carry more than 13 pitchers on a 26-man roster. So teams are required to have at least a 4 man bench. A platoon at DH is certainly feasible, but like you suggest, those hitters being able to cover a couple defensive positions is helpful. Probably also depends on defensive flexibility in your regular starting position players too. Having guys like Kike who can handle multiple positions ably can facilitate the DH rotation and give you some wiggle room to carry a defensively-limited/deficient bat or two.
 

YTF

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By rule, teams can't carry more than 13 pitchers on a 26-man roster. So teams are required to have at least a 4 man bench. A platoon at DH is certainly feasible, but like you suggest, those hitters being able to cover a couple defensive positions is helpful. Probably also depends on defensive flexibility in your regular starting position players too. Having guys like Kike who can handle multiple positions ably can facilitate the DH rotation and give you some wiggle room to carry a defensively-limited/deficient bat or two.
Agreed. In the today's game nearly every player on you team should be able to play at least two positions and you need a couple who can play three or four. IMO, unless you have a player with limited defensive skills who can flat out mash the DH spot should be used as a rotational slot to keep players fresh via semi days off and to keep others sharp by getting addition ABs for role players. If you lock yourself into a "traditional" DH type and he fails offensively he's trying up a valuable roster slot.
 

chawson

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For a GM with a track record of signing players with positional flexibility, along with changes to the game favoring more athletic types, I would be very surprised if much money was invested for that "position."
Agreed. I think they'll need that lineup spot to help develop hitters at the MLB level without locking them into defensive positions. Like Valdez, for example.

I'm glad JDM recovered his stroke a bit over the last month or so, and it redeems the Sox good faith decision to play him despite nothing to play for, letting a respected veteran with a track record for figuring it out figure it out before hitting free agency. I wouldn't be against a smaller deal to bring him back in a reduced role, but it's more likely fond farewell time.