The RDBL Trade Market had largely stalled as clubs waited on the plans of the Spokane Fightin' Fish and their crowded Keeper Roster. As rumors swirled Tuesday morning that GM Michael Tirabassi is entering keeping both Gerrit Cole (2/$73) and Shane Bieber (2/$71), it was clear the club would need to shed some payroll in order to make the numbers work.
Tirabassi did just that Tuesday afternoon, trading outfielders JD Martinez (2/$24) and Giancarlo Stanton (2/$31) to the Mission Viejo Maulers for activation-ready shortstop Willy Adames (Minors) and a 2022 5th Round pick.
Stanton and Martinez will join a group that should mash in 2022, joining Corey Seager, Ronald Acuña and Aaron Judge with the outcome of the Maulers season likely relying on the arms of Justin Verlander and Mike Clevinger.
Martinez bounced back last year after a disappointing 2020 season, blasting 28 bombs along with a .286/.349/.518 triple slash in 634 trips to the plate. While the numbers were strong by an objective measure, they were a notch below the MVP-caliber production we saw from him between 2017-2019, where Martinez put up an otherworldly 1.007 OPS, .306 ISO, and 124 home runs, the most dingers by any single player during that three-year stretch. Between Martinez's down 2020 and age (he'll turn 35 during the 2022 season), one can't help but wonder if his best days are behind him.
On the bright side, he hasn't experienced the decline in contact skills we typically associated with age-related decline. His 23.7% strikeout rate, 14.5% SwStr rate, and 73% contact rate in 2021 were in line with his career norms. The quality of contact is just as good too, with a 92.5 MPH average exit velocity and 49.4% hard hit rate last year, both putting him in the top 10% of major league hitters. He also maintained a 23.8% line drive rate, helping contribute to a healthy .340 BABIP and a .288 xBA. While no one should expect a return to his late 2010s production, Martinez profiles as a reliable four-category contributor which will be a major addition to the Maulers lineup.
Stanton bounced back strong in 2021 after two injury-riddled seasons in the Bronx. Many fans and fantasy managers were skeptical that he could get back to his 2017 NL MVP form but he nearly did so, finishing fourth in AL MVP voting last year. He produced 35 homers and 97 RBI, second on the team behind only Aaron Judge, with a .273 batting average. As it stands, Stanton is back to his typical slugging excellence and still ranks among the very best in hard-hit rate and exit velocity. The only question with him on draft day is the ability to sustain good health, which doesn't currently seem to be an issue.
Adames is another young and cheap addition to an exciting trio of rookie contact infielders on the Fightin' Fish roster. National League Rookie of the Year Jonathan India (2R/$3), activation-ready Ke'Bryan Hayes (Minors) and Adames provide Tirabassi with some needed cap relief.
Adames slashed .262/.337/.481 with 25 home runs, 73 RBI, 77 runs scored, and five stolen bases over 140 games in 2021. The shortstop struggled to hit at Tropicana Field (75% of his homers came away from Tropicana) but mashed on the road throughout his career. In April, he struggled mightily for the Rays (.169/.207/.301 slash line) before a trade in May to Milwaukee salvaged his fantasy season. The 26-year-old posted a career-best barrel rate (11.4%), wOBA (.377), and hard-hit rate (44.7%) over 99 games with the Brewers. Adames is expected to hit second in Milwaukee's lineup and is entrenched as the team's starting shortstop.
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