Could the Arizona Diamondbacks welcome back J.D. Martinez in 2024?

ESPN's David Schoenfield compiled a list of "under-the-radar" MLB free agents, and their possible fits in MLB free agency, and listed the Diamondbacks as a potential home for the slugger, who was part of the team's memorable late-season 2017 run after the DBacks traded for the slugger from the Detroit Tigers.

Martinez played in 62 games for Arizona that season, hitting .302 with 29 home runs.

He signed with the Red Sox after that season, where he played through 2022. Martinez spent last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Schoenfield included Arizona as an option for Martinez as an upgrade for the Diamondbacks at designated hitter.

He wrote of Martinez. "Martinez will be 36 but is coming off a .271/.321/.572 season with the Dodgers, mashing 33 home runs in 113 games. He had the sixth-highest hard-hit rate among qualified hitters, but he also had the highest strikeout rate of his career and his lowest walk rate since 2014. So, there is some fall-off-the-table risk here if the batting average declines but also a lot of power."

Arizona's designated hitters hit .218 with a .286 OBP last season.

More: Why starting pitching remains Arizona Diamondbacks’ top offseason priority

Martinez isn't the only free agent listed as a potential fit with the Diamondbacks on Schoenfield's list.

Jorge Soler, Justin Turner and Joc Pederson are included among other potential designated hitter fits for Arizona.

Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who played with Arizona last season, is listed as a possible fit with the Diamondbacks in free agency as well.

The Diamondbacks are included among potential options for starting pitcher James Paxton.

More: MLB free agency predictions for Arizona Diamondbacks include Blake Snell, Justin Turner

But the Martinez name on the list is what really got our attention, perhaps because of his short, but very memorable previous time in Arizona.

Interestingly, Martinez said the DBacks could have resigned him "easily" after that 2017 season in an interview with The Arizona Republic in 2019.

“I don’t want really get into that (details of the negotiations),” Martinez told The Republic's Nick Piecoro at the time. “But it could have got done. I think so. Easily.”

Could the Diamondbacks sign Martinez now?

J.D. Martinez: Arizona Diamondbacks could have re-signed him 'easily'

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Diamondbacks potential MLB free agency fit with J.D. Martinez