Which free agent designated hitter should the Arizona Diamondbacks sign?
The Arizona Diamondbacks need a designated hitter. Fortunately, this free agent market has a wealth of possibilities.
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen is making steady progress as he works through his offseason to-do list.
Upgrade at third base? Done with the trade for Eugenio Suárez. Acquire a starting pitcher? Check that one off with the signing of Eduardo Rodriguez.
Still, one task remains: Finding that right-handed power bat, which Hazen has said will either play a corner or be a designated hitter. He also expects this to be the result of a free-agent signing.
There has been speculation the D-backs have interest in four possible designated hitters: Rhys Hoskins, old friend J.D. Martinez, Jorge Soler, and Justin Turner. Jack Sommers has done a breakdown of the D-backs’ current financial commitments, writing that they have enough remaining money to add a hitter, even as the team will probably surpass its previous spending.
So, let’s consider the possibilities. (All salary projections are from MLB Trade Rumors.)
Rhys Hoskins
Projected contract: 2 years, $36 million
Age: 31
Status: Free agent after missing the 2023 season with a torn ACL in his left knee.
Prior to his injury, Hoskins was not one of MLB’s biggest sluggers, but he was one of its most consistent hitters. He has a career slashline of .242/.353/.492 (125 OPS+). In signing Hoskins, the D-backs would not get overwhelming power, but they could expect consistent production.
Would it be nice to have a right-handed platoon for Christian Walker? Yes. But no one is signing Hoskins for his glove given that his career DRS is -7.
Still, just watch that swing.
You may wonder how Hoskins has performed at Chase Field. In 43 plate appearances, he’s slashed .177/.333/.265 (.500 OPS) with six hits, three of them doubles. He also had five GDP and a tOPS+ of 48. Clearly, this is a small sample size, and it’s safe to assume his offensive performance would even out.
What’s good about this? Hoskins could prove a real boon for a D-backs team that was not always offensively consistent. Moreover, given that Hoskins has just missed a season, it’s possible that he will look for a short-term contract or opt out that would allow him to re-test free agency. Any signing that allows the D-backs to avoid a long-term commitment is a good move.
What’s less good about this? He’s coming off a significant knee injury. There’s no reason to think Hoskins won’t have a full recovery, but signing him is not without risk, coupled with the fact that he missed an entire season.
J.D Martinez
Projected contract: 2 years, $40 million
Age: 36
Status: Free agent after completing a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Noah Wright recently made the case for the D-backs signing Martinez:
Adding Martinez would bring the Diamondbacks a 30+ home run hitter with the potential of posting an OPS approaching .900. Think of how many runs JDM would drive in if he hit behind Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte. Heck, think how many home runs Martinez and Christian Walker could combine for. You could see them approach 70 combined dingers.
Look on in awe and wonder.
You’ve got to admit: Having Martinez back in a D-backs uniform would rule.
Martinez is a familiar presence at Chase Field. In 187 plate appearances, he’s hit 18 homers, 15 doubles, and slashed .344/.417/.779 for an OPS of 1.196 (tOPS+ of 168). Those are some serious numbers. Given that he’s accumulated a -3 DRS as an outfielder, it’s safe to assume he would be used strictly as an offensive player.
What’s good about this? Martinez, even though he’s 36, has shown remarkable consistency throughout his career (with the exception of 2020). Moreover, he’s familair with the D-backs organization. Plus, last season saw him refresh his skills in the Dodgers’ player-development system.
What’s not so good about this? He’s not a young guy (a groin injury limited him to 113 games in 2023), and $20 million is a lot of money for an aging DH.
Jorge Soler
Projected contract: 3 years, $45 million
Age: 31
Status: Free agent after opting out of the final year of a three-year, $36 million contract.
Soler has had an uneven career, primarily due to injuries, but when he’s right, Soler can absolutely mash. Over his career, he’s slashed .330/.467/.797 (113 OPS+). In 2023, he hit 36 home runs in 586 plate appearances. (He was healthy until September.)
Here he is ripping it up at Chase Field.
Okay, that’ll play.
Soler has seen some success when playing at Chase Field. In 72 plate appearances, he’s hit five homers and for doubles while slashing .258/.282/.546 with a .827 OPS (102 tOPS+). Not bad.
Still, the value is in Soler’s bat. As an outfielder, he’s accumulated -55 (you read that right) DRS.
What’s good about this? He’s got right-handed power and shown an ability (in a small sample size) to be effective at Chase. Plus, he’s younger than some of the other free-agent options.
What’s less good about this? He’s not always been able to stay healthy. In addition, he’s projected to receive $15 million for three (or multiple) years. The D-backs are a young team looking for a player to tide them over until the prospects are ready. Signing Soler seems like a serious commitment.
Justin Turner
Projected contract: 1 year, $16 million
Age: 38
Status: Free agent after spending one year with the Boston Red Sox.
Even though Turner’s time with the Dodgers has ended, he remained in solid form with the Red Sox in 2023. He slashed .276/.345/.455 with 23 home runs in 626 plate appearances. He’s still got it and can play a serviceable infield. (His defense is around league average as measured by DRS.)
A familiar face at Chase Field given all those years with the Dodgers, Turner has slashed .309/.380/.532 with a .912 OPS (119 tOPS+). That’s in 300 plate appearances, which includes 11 home runs and 22 doubles.
What’s good about this? The D-backs know a great deal about Turner because they saw him so many times when he was with the Dodgers. Plus, he’s proven to be a durable player who is still a serviceable defender. In addition, a one-year contract is not a bad thing.
What’s not so good about this? Turner’s approaching 40, which increases the odds that he could suffer an injury.
So, what should they do?
My tendency is to go with Hoskins if he and the D-backs can arrive at a contract that works for both parties.
There’s a lot to be said for the consistency he’s shown throughout his career, and adding a first-base platoon would not be a bad thing. If he’s looking for a “pillow contract,” he becomes even more attractive. Plus, he’s the youngest of these options.
But that’s just my opinion — and I’m not terribly confident in my recommendation. Leave your thoughts in the comments.