Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that both the Rockies and Diamondbacks have expressed interest in Tigers’ outfielder J.D. Martinez. With just $11.75 million remaining in his contract before he hits free agency in 2018, the hot-hitting corner outfielder appears likely to be dealt sometime before the deadline, though Morosi notes that trade talks aren’t serious just yet. The Dodgers, Cardinals and Royals are also rumored to be in the running for Martinez’s services, each with a notable gap to fill in the outfield and at the plate.
Martinez, 29, is in his fourth run with the Tigers. He’s two years removed from his most valuable season, during which he produced 5.0 fWAR and slashed .282/.344/.535 with 38 home runs. He managed to maintain a .300+ batting average in 2016 and is chasing that with another .300+ average, 15-homer performance this year. A sprained Lisfranc ligament in his right foot kept him out of commission for the first few months of the 2017 season, but he appears to have made a full recovery, bouncing back with an impressive .306/.384/.622 batting line, 15 home runs and a 1.006 OPS through his first 224 PA of the year.
The Diamondbacks are in desperate need of outfield depth after losing left fielder Yasmany Tomas, who was hit with a mild right groin strain several weeks ago and is expected to be unavailable through the end of the month, if not longer. The Rockies, on the other hand, aren’t hurting for outfield depth with Carlos Gonzalez, Gerardo Parra, Raimel Tapia and Ian Desmond at the corners, but could use another boost at the plate as they try to hang onto a wild card spot down the stretch.
