I love JD Martinez's bat, but the problem with him is that he's already almost unplayable in the outfield defensively. He's also over 30 now, so there's not much chance that he's going to improve. At some point during his next contract, he's almost definitely going to have to move to DH full time.
I agree that another every day bat is a need for this team, though. I'd prefer it to be more of an on-base guy for the top of the lineup rather than a slugger. I really believe the "you go, we go" effect with Fowler was bigger part of their success in 2016 than anyone realized, and not having that in 2017 was a major reason the lineup was so much more inconsistent.
Yeah, good points. Is there a FA leadoff guy available? If so, I haven't been thinking of him.
Martinez is a good bet to be as good or better an OBP guy than Fowler, it's not like you're giving up any OBP with a bat like that.
I'm fine to defer to you guys and Theo on the defense, didn't realize it was that bad. Schwarber's isn't exactly good either; so if you were to replace a DH in left with another DH, would it really be that big of a defensive decline? Heh heh, if he's really a mile worse than schwarber defensively, that is kind of scary!
Still, I admit that part of me thinks that hitting, hitting, and hitting every day is just such a team-changer. You replace a .211-BA Schwarber with a .300-hitting Martinez, every day, and without needing to platoon, and that really makes it easier to sustain innings and grind a pitcher. I know for Theo's Red Sox champs, Manny Ramirez wasn't an asset in left defensively, but an elite bat in the lineup changes a lot. And most games there aren't many balls hit to left anyway, most of which are easy plays or sure hits regardless, without necessarily discriminating much between an awful left fielder versus a merely bad one.
I know Cubs have pitching problems. But I'm a huge believer that a consistent, high-scoring offense can cover up a multitude of sins. And I think it actually can make pitchers better. Pitching with a lead, or with the expectation that team will come back and score runs even if you give up a solo-HR, would seem to have a freeing influence, and allow guys to throw more strikes rather than needing to nibble so much. Which seemed to be very much the Lester/Q/Montgomery/Arrieta approach as starters, and the Bosio/Contreras approach with the bullpen guys as well.