For those who have followed the Toronto Blue Jays fans through the rebuild and into the 2020s, the name J.D. Martinez is likely one that you have heard time and time again.

The right-handed slugger was a staple on the Boston Red Sox from 2018 to 2022 and before his time in Boston, he suited up for the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, and Arizona Diamondbacks before taking his talents out to the East Coast, collecting 362 at-bats against Toronto since making his debut in 2011. Following the 2022 season, Martinez became a free agent after spending five seasons with the Red Sox. Known for his power in the box and ability to grind out tough at-bats, the veteran slugger found his way out to Los Angeles, joining the Dodgers on a one-year deal that saw him churn out another All-Star-worthy campaign, posting a .271/.321/.572 slash line with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs to the tune of a .893 OPS.

This winter, the Miami product is once again looking for another playing opportunity. A return to Los Angeles is likely out of the picture unless he signs with the Angels after the Dodgers inked Shohei Ohtani to a mega contract and any team needing some thump in their lineup will likely be giving the former World Series champion a call this offseason.

Enter the Toronto Blue Jays.

Last season, the Blue Jays struggled to find their power stroke in the batter’s box despite boasting Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer, and Matt Chapman in the lineup.

Collectively, the group churned out 188 home runs (ranking 16th), 705 RBIs (16th), and a .417 SLG (13th), a far cry from Blue Jays fans are used to seeing from a group that broke 200 home runs the year prior and led the 2021 season with 262 round-trippers. It’s no secret the Jays’ front office focused on defence and pitching heading into the 2023 season but that only took the club so far, which combined with what many consider down campaigns for Guerrero Jr., Springer, and Alejandro Kirk in the batter’s box, the Jays postseason hopes were dashed early in Minnesota to the tune of just one run across two games.

Looking into the 2023 season with four notable roster position players heading into free agency, the Jays front office has some work to do. While the offseason has been slow out of the gate, there are some strong contenders left on the market to help with the club’s offensive woes in 2024 (and potentially beyond).

For Martinez, the fit with the Blue Jays makes sense on a few different levels.

From the Jays perspective, a veteran bat that can play in the corner outfield spots when needed while slotting in at the DH role is just what the team needs, especially since his pedigree is to hit for power and extra-base hits, which the Jays are used to seeing from him during his Red Sox days.

He has eight seasons of 20+ home runs under his belt and his 2023 statcast metrics were off the charts, slotting above the 90th percentile in six offensive categories and finishing at the 93rd percentile in batting run value. With the Dodgers, he produced a 54.9 hard hit % and saw a decline in his ground ball rate to 35.6%, which is an improvement over the 38.2% he posted the year prior. For a team needing a bat in the worst way, a veteran with playoff experience and the ability to hit a variety of pitches (.288 average and .255 batting averages versus fastballs and breaking pitches, respectively, last year) fits into the Jays’ plans this offseason.

Signing Martinez does have a couple of drawbacks, one of which is his limited ability to play on the field. He’s likely seen his last days playing a fielding position with regularity and will likely be a straight DH for the club, barring spot starts in the outfield, although Ross Atkins has stated the organization is open to signing a bat-only type of player this offseason (and we shall see if that extends players outside of Ohtani).

The other drawback is that he swings from the right side, which the Blue Jays are chock-full of at the moment besides Cavan Biggio and Daulton Varsho on the big league roster. The club has a few lefty-bat options that could crack the Opening Day roster in Nathan Lukes, Addison Barger, and Spencer Horwitz, but unless the Jays sign another free agent or two that swings from the left side, there are only two lefty-bats, I would consider locks.

The benefit with Martinez is that although he does swing from the right side, his career stats versus right-handers are solid, amassing a .341 OBP and a .846 OPS through 1437 games. This trend also continued into last season, posting a .270 average while belting 24 home runs facing right-handed pitchers and finishing with a .880 OPS.

Per Spotrac, Martinez has a market value of $15.4 million and the folks at MLB Trade Rumours predicted earlier this offseason that he will ink a two-year deal worth $40 million, coming in at $20 million per season.

For a DH-only player, this may seem a bit steep, but considering the Jays need a power bat in the worst way, a deal around $15-20 million per season could work out well if he can continue to find that power swing at the Rogers Centre, where he owns a career .302/.348/.508 line with four home runs through 126 at-bats.  Ideally, a short-term deal such as a one-year contract with a team option for a second season would fit well for the Jays as they look to contend with their current core.

Represented by super agent Scott Boras, who has grown fond of the Blue Jays organization in recent years, there is a chance Martinez won’t be in a hurry to sign any contract right away to get the best deal possible. If a deal between both parties is possible, don’t be surprised if it comes in late December or even into January if there is interest from both sides.