Cardinals could pursue Mets slugger in free agency to bolster lineup

While much of the focus has been on the pitching struggles, the main issue for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024 has been their offense.

Franchise cornerstones Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado have not performed up to par, and other stars such as Jordan Walker, Lars Nootbaar, and Nolan Gorman have disappointed.

Goldschmidt is a free agent at the end of the season and St. Louis will need to replace him with a power bat. They could potentially target a key slugger from the New York Mets.

"J.D. Martinez is like a nice bottle of cabernet; he just gets better with age," Jim Bowden wrote in The Athletic. "He'll have to go year-by-year contract-wise, but should attract interest based on his consistent DH production and valuable leadership qualities."

Martinez will turn 37 on August 21. But even in his advanced age, he remains one of the top hitters in Major League Baseball.

He's hitting .257 with 12 home runs, 54 RBI, and a .781 OPS and is coming off a 33-homer season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He would fit right into St. Louis' lineup if signed this offseason. The Cardinals also value leadership in the clubhouse, as evidenced by their signings of Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, Matt Carpenter, and Brandon Crawford.

Martinez would be able to back that up with a strong offensive presence. It will be interesting to see if the Cardinals decide to pursue him, but he would instantly be an upgrade over Goldschmidt, who has struggled this season.

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