Can anything the Dodgers do, go under the radar? Los Angeles has always been about the hype. Throw in the fact they spend billions on ballplayers and subtlety doesn’t come to mind.

It’s also impossible to predict how a 35-year-old DH will respond to a less hitter-friendly environment. I don’t think going from Boston to Los Angeles is as difficult as the opposite move. His former teammate, Mookie Betts has fared pretty well since making that cross-country move.

Given the hype around Judge and the four free agent shortstops, I admit to forgetting about cousin J.D (Martinez) and that he was a free agent. Since he left the Astros for Detroit in 2014, he’s been one of the more consistent sluggers in the game.

Aside from an ugly, 2020 Covid-season, he’s put up very solid numbers. He’s also coming off a non-J.D season for the Red Sox. In 139 games, he only hit 16 homers and 62 RBI with a .274/.341/.448 slash. The Dodgers are betting $10 million that he’ll bounce back and return to form.

His form is pretty impressive however and quite different from the so-so standards of most of today’s players. He has hit 282 career home runs and boasts a career slash line of .288/.352/.526. He’s also done pretty well in the postseason for the Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Red Sox-hitting .303 with 9 homers and 30 RBI in 30 postseason games. In 2018, he put up awesome numbers for the World champs. In 150 games, he slashed .330/.402/.629 with 43 homers, 130 RBI and 111 runs scored.

If you were to examine his yearly numbers, you’d be hard pressed to find much variance from his norm. He’s also proven that he can make adjustments, as Astros fans are loathe to discuss. While I can’t conjure up anything in my crystal ball, I’d be willing to bet $10 million of the Dodgers money on the prospect.

Editor’s note: I’m going to hold off on posting about Mr. Perfect’s passing. It comes as a shock especially after Mike Leach’s death. Don’t put off the long distance phone call for too long.