Diamondbacks acquire J.D. Martinez from Tigers - and assemble powerful lineup

Diamondbacks acquire J.D. Martinez from Tigers - and assemble powerful lineup

Diamondbacks acquire J.D. Martinez from Tigers - and assemble powerful lineup, The biggest power bat on baseball's trade market moved in a hurry Tuesday when the Detroit Tigers shipped outfielder J.D. Martinez to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for three prospects.

In a deal that signals a significant rebuild in Detroit and a go-for-it mentality for the National League wild card-leading Diamondbacks, the Tigers will receive Arizona prospects Dawel Lugo, Sergio Alcantara and Jose King. 

In exchange, Arizona gets a daunting middle of the lineup that will feature right-handed sluggers Martinez and former NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt sandwiching power-hitting third baseman Jake Lamb. 

Diamondbacks acquire J.D. Martinez from Tigers - and assemble powerful lineup

While the Diamondbacks aren't likely to catch the rampaging Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, it certainly makes Arizona a daunting playoff foe - particularly since it has lefty and righty aces in Robbie Ray and Zack Greinke who could navigate the wild card game and Game 1 of a Division Series. 

Martinez hit a career-high 38 home runs in 2015, and averaged 34 homers and 100 RBI from 2014-2016.

Martinez revived his career in Detroit after foundering in Houston. Embracing a new stance and commitment to hitting more fly balls, he hit 23 home runs in 2014, his first season in Detroit, and was an All-Star and Silver Slugger in 2015. 

Martinez is making $11.75 million this season, and will be a free agent in the off-season.

That's the main reason the prospect return from Arizona was, in a sense, underwhelming. Lugo, a 22-year-old shortstop, is batting .282 with seven homers and a .753 OPS in his first full season at Class AA.  

MSN