5 Trade Candidates The SF Giants Should Pursue with the Universal DH in mind

5 Trade Candidates The SF Giants Should Pursue with the Universal DH

J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox

Like Olson, J.D. Martinez bounced back in 2021, even earning an All-Star apparence, after a rather forgettable 2020, which is good news for the Red Sox. He mashed 28 home runs and drove in 99 runs for a Red Sox team that was two wins short of the World Series. Let me just preface this as well by saying a trade of Martinez anywhere is not likely unless Boston decides to cut payroll with Martinez having a $19.3M salary for 2022.

It's hard to know whether or not the full $19.3M salary would deter Farhan and company from either considering it, but Martinez would be worth the price based on not only his 2021 performance but his career track record.

Martinez will turn 35 by the season's end and has turned in an impressive career for someone who did not get full playing time until he was 26. He has a career batting average of .290, slugged 266 home runs, and knocked in 837 runs. His career WAR to this point is an impressive 26.8.

Analytical speaking, there are not many power hitters like Martinez. According to baseballsavant.mlb.com, Martinez is in the 90th percentile or above in the following categories: average exit velocity, hard-hit percentage, expected batting average, and expected slugging percentage. AKA THE MAN HITS HARD AND GETS ON BASE.

If acquired, the logical spot to play Martinez would be DH (of course), however, he does have plenty of experience in both right and left field. Last season he logged 300 innings in the corners.

Lastly, if there were any questions as if Martinez's power would transfer from Fenway Park to Oracle Park, the answer is a definitive yes. Out of the 31 home runs he hit, 27 of them still would've gone out at Oracle. (Bonus tidbit: if he played for the Cincinnati Reds he would've hit EIGHT extra home runs, and for the Dodgers? Four extra).