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No comment on the Royals. Too soon, lol.
Martinez and Detroit seem to be very high on each other, but not sure where he fits in with their other priorities. Scherzer about to become a free agent and possibly gone. Price a free agent after next season. Their bullpen completely failed them in the playoffs. They seem to be becoming increasingly aware that defense can't be ignored. Someone made a post on here a few weeks ago comparing the M's to the 2000 team. Detroit reminds me of the '97 Mariners, perhaps my favorite team of my lifetime - superstars and scrubs, but with the same perfect flaws.
Haven't followed the M's too closely, but I question if Martinez is even the type of hitter the team really needs. I think he's one of the best (and perhaps most underrated) contact hitters in the American League. Safeco probably eats his HR power alive, particularly as he gets older. No position flexibility, obviously no speed. Not saying he'd necessarily be a bad fit (especially considering the lineup balance), just doesn't strike me as the right guy to go all in. Maybe he becomes the default choice because of lack of options, but I think the ideal would be a trade for a power-hitting corner OF preferably a few years younger than Martinez.
If not a bat like that then maybe just go all out on pitching and get Lester. With the new TV deal revenues, we're moving away from the environment where you can decide you want a premiere FA and just outbid everyone else. There are more teams ready to spend big money than there are elite free agents deserving it. The team needs to distinguish itself outside of money to snag a big FA. (I think Cano is a closet Griffey worshipper and JZ knew how to reel in Jay-Z) The M's have a path to Lester with the Tacoma connection. Maybe that's huge to him, maybe it's meaningless. Regardless, that's a starting point they don't have with other elite free agents and you know they can sell Safeco to any starting pitcher. I'd be a lot more comfortable with them committing $25-30 mil per year on Lester than $15-20 mil on Martinez. And if Paxton and Walker happen to jell next year, a rotation with Lester could be one of the best of this generation.