3 right-handed sluggers Dodgers can sign to replace Justin Turner

2. J.D. Martinez

There was some speculation that the Dodgers would trade for J.D. Martinez at the deadline last season. It made all the sense in the world because they needed a middle-of-the-order bat while the Red Sox should’ve been selling any assets they could.

Ultimately, a deal was not made and the Red Sox held onto Martinez for no real reason. Now, he’s a free agent and, with the direction that Boston is going, it’s hard to see him returning to the team that he has called home since 2018.

Martinez is another obvious DH candidate for the Dodgers but, in a pickle, he could play left field if the team absolutely needed him to. It would not happen often at all though, as he would slot in as the full-time DH with Max Muncy playing either third or second on a nightly basis.

Martinez is no longer in his prime, but he does still have something to offer as a power-hitting right-handed bat. The five-time All-Star had a down year in 2022 because of a bad second half, finishing with 16 home runs, 62 RBI and a .790 OPS in 139 games played.

Just a year prior, he put up an .867 OPS with 28 home runs and 99 RBI, so the production is obviously still there. Martinez is still elite against southpaws as well, as he finished with a .998 OPS against them last season.

For a team with several left-handed bats and reverse-split righties, the Dodgers would benefit from a true lefty masher. There’s an existing connection with Martinez as well — hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc is the one who revitalized his swing.