Simply earlier than the vacations, the recent range roared to life for the primary base and DH market as a number of gamers all got here off the board over the course of a matter of days. Josh Naylor and Nathaniel Lowe modified palms by way of commerce, whereas Christian Walker, Paul Goldschmidt, Carlos Santana, Joc Pederson, Andrew McCutchen, and Josh Bell all inked offers in free company. The growth on this nook of the market even impacted depth items similar to Darick Corridor and Matt Mervis, each of whom discovered new houses in minor league free company and by way of commerce respectively. Even after that run of offers coming collectively, nonetheless, loads of fascinating first base and DH choices stay obtainable. Pete Alonso is after all the highest free agent first baseman obtainable this winter, whereas Anthony Rizzo and Mark Canha are among the many extra fascinating bounce-back candidates who may nonetheless be had on the open market
Among the many most notable choices obtainable at this level within the winter for these trying to fill a gap at DH are a pair of getting old right-handed bats, each of whom are World Collection champions with embellished resumes: Justin Turner and J.D. Martinez. Each gamers look like within the twilight of their careers however managed to place up above-average offensive outcomes final yr and wish to prolong their careers in free company this winter. These similarities include noticeable variations of their general profiles that give every sure benefits over the opposite, creating an fascinating distinction between the pair.
Turner, who celebrated his fortieth birthday again in November, is a free agent for the third consecutive offseason. The longtime Dodgers stalwart was among the many sport’s premier pure hitters throughout his time in Los Angeles, and in 9 seasons with the membership he slashed a superb .296/.375/.490 (136 wRC+). Nobody ought to anticipate that degree of manufacturing from Turner at this stage of his profession, however though his days of All-Star appearances and top-10 finishes in MVP voting look like behind him he’s remained a constant and solidly above-average hitter in two seasons since departing his longtime membership. He’s break up time between the Pink Sox, Blue Jays, and Mariners since leaving the Dodgers, and in that point has slashed .268/.349/.422 with a wRC+ of 116 whereas accruing 2.2 fWAR.
Digging a little bit deeper, Turner will get to his manufacturing in largely the identical method he at all times has, with a high-contact method and powerful plate self-discipline. He’s struck out at an similar 17.6% clip in every of the final two seasons, only a hair behind Juan Soto’s 17.5% strikeout fee. In 2024, he paired that with a superb 10.9% stroll fee that positioned him alongside Carlos Santana and Yordan Alvarez in a tie for the Twenty seventh-highest stroll fee amongst certified hitters this yr. That’s to not say Turner is flawless as a hitter, after all; the veteran has by no means been a lot of an influence risk, and 2024 noticed him hit simply 11 homers as his ISO dropped to .124. That was the Sixteenth-lowest determine amongst certified hitters final yr and is Turner’s worst end within the class since he arrived in L.A. again in 2014. His 4.6% barrel fee and 32.5% Arduous-Hit fee had been equally bottom-16 figures within the majors this yr.
As for Martinez, the six-time All-Star spent his peak years in Detroit and Boston with a short sojourn to Arizona within the center. From 2014 to 2019, solely Mike Trout and Aaron Choose topped Martinez’s 151 wRC+ as he slashed an unimaginable .307/.373/.581 with 207 homers in 816 video games. In fact, these peak years at the moment are lengthy behind him. Because the begin of the 2021 season, Martinez has slashed .268/.334/.486 (122 wRC+) with noticeable peaks and valleys in his manufacturing primarily based totally on his energy output. The slugger mashed extra homers (33) in 2023 than he did within the 2022 and ’24 seasons mixed (32), and relying on his energy output can oscillate from a roughly replacement-level bat to a slugger nonetheless worthy of an All-Star look.
With that being stated, Martinez’s plate self-discipline pales compared to that of Turner. Over the previous two seasons, Martinez has struck out at a hefty 29.8% clip whereas strolling a strong however unspectacular 8.5% of the time. It’s additionally value noting that, whereas he’s three years youthful than Turner is, he offers even much less defensive worth than his 40-year-old up to date. Turner performed in 139 video games and began within the area for simply 44 of them in 2024 (virtually completely at first base), however you’d should go all the way in which again to 2018 to discover a yr the place Martinez began that many video games in a season.
It also needs to be famous that Martinez’s platform season is way worse than that of Turner’s, as he hit simply .235/.320/.406 (108 wRC+) in 120 video games with the Mets and began dropping enjoying time to deadline pickup Jesse Winker late within the yr. Whereas he posted a powerful .417 on-base share in a restricted function through the membership’s postseason run, he hit for surprisingly little energy with no extra-base hits. Turner, in the meantime completed robust down the stretch with the Mariners as he hit .264/.363/.403 (126 wRC+) in 48 video games after being traded to Seattle over the summer time.
However, Martinez’s underlying numbers recommend a resurgence might be within the playing cards for 2025. His 14.7% barrel fee final yr was only a hair behind these of Austin Riley and Teoscar Hernández, whereas 45.5% Arduous-Hit Charge locations him squarely between Elly De La Cruz and Joc Pederson. That contributes to a .356 xwOBA that was practically 40 factors larger than his wOBA final yr. In the meantime, Turner’s profile is kind of maxed out, together with his .327 wOBA in 2024 practically matching his .330 xwOBA and his 2023 manufacturing really outstripping his anticipated numbers noticeably.
So, in case your workforce wanted a DH, which veteran would you slightly usher in for 2025? Would you worth Turner’s consistency, self-discipline, and restricted capacity to play the sector? Or are you extra drawn to Martinez’s energy, upside, and relative youth?
