May 31st, 2023 at 9:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Dodgers outfielder J.D. Martinez, affectionately (and appropriately) nicknamed ‘Just Dingers,’ is indeed ‘Just Doing’ that.
In his last 14 games, the extremely popular 35-year-old Miami, FL native and 20th-round draft pick in 2009 by the Houston Astros out of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale is 20 for his last 60, which equates to a .333 batting average.
But wait … There’s more!
Included in those 60 at-bats are four doubles and seven home runs – including a dinger in each of his last three games – and his current 14-game hitting streak is tied for the second longest of his remarkable 13-year MLB career.
Martinez’s 12 home runs are currently second most on the team behind only Max Muncy‘s 17 and his 35 RBI are currently tied with Muncy for the team lead. However, his .610 SLG (slugging percentage) is currently tops in the National League.
How’s that for J.D. ‘Just Doing It?’
“I was just trying to read and react,” Martinez said the 96.9mph sinker thrown by Washington Nationals right-hander Andrés Machado, which he absolutely crushed for a 416-foot two-run home run to straightaway center field in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Dodgers a then 6-3 lead in their eventual 9-3 win over the Nats in front of a Dodger Stadium crowd of 46,571.
(SportsNet LA)
“I’m glad the Dodgers signed him,” said Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who also homered on Tuesday night for his 10th home run and 35th RBI of the season. Freeman also extended his current hitting streak to 19 games on Tuesday night (going 4-for-5) and now has 77 hits, 23 doubles, and 132 total bases, all of which currently lead MLB.
Play Ball!
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A big plus on Andrew Friedman’s acquisition balance sheet. Other than the brief stay on the IL, I don’t see any signs of JD slowing down. By no means is he considered a fast runner, but obviously a smart runner who regularly takes extra bases and legs out doubles. Smart move by Martinez and his agent (Boras) to play in LA this season — he is on pace to get a large, multi-year deal as a 2023 free agent (not from the Dodgers)
Like him or not, Scott Boras is absolutely the best in the business and his clients always make out well. But J.D. will be 36 years old on August 21 and I believe that teams will be reluctant to sign him to a multi-year deal, including and perhaps especially Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers.
That said, if J.D. can stay healthy and can stay somewhat close to the torrid pace that he is currently on, I can see Boras getting him a very lucrative one or two-year deal that is loaded with performance bonuses.
I appreciate what Boras does for his clients. I think he oversteps when he starts meddling in union and MLB labor negotiations — clearly a conflict of interest. I think JD will get a two year guaranteed contract and possibly a third year vesting option with more than half the teams interested.
I have an idea. What if Dodgers do to Blue management guys what they have done to all our fave players? Have Dodgers designate Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman because of poor decisions!