The MLB offseason hasn’t gotten off to the hottest start, but one team that’s been active in talks is the Toronto Blue Jays. And it appears they have a pair of former Boston Red Sox designated hitters on their radar.
Justin Turner and J.D. Martinez are “drawing some degree” of interest from the Blue Jays, SportNet’s Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported Wednesday, adding Toronto is also looking at Rhys Hoskins, Joc Pederson, Justin Turner and Joey Votto, “among various others.”
Turner spent the 2023 season with the Red Sox and exercised his player option opt-out in order to test the free agent market. It was expected the 38-year-old was going to do so after batting .276 with 23 home runs and 96 RBI in 146 games. Turner dealt with a heal contusion toward the end of the year that he played through, but figures to be healthy going into the 2024 campaign.
Martinez joined the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year deal for 2023. He compiled a .271 batting average with 33 home runs and 103 RBI in 113 games. The 36-year-old spent the previous five seasons in Boston and thrived in the DH role — particularly in the 2018 season with 130 RBI and 43 home runs. Martinez won two Silver Slugger Awards that year — one as a DH and one as an outfielder.
The Blue Jays have a lot of offensive power in their lineup already, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt adding some extra depth in either Turner or Martinez.
The market has been a bit slow since free agency opened. Shohei Ohtani made his long-awaited decision and will join the Dodgers. A decision from Yoshinobu Yamamoto is also looming.