Once a castoff, J.D.’s star shining brightest

The most valuable player in baseball this season is J.D. Martinez, even if he might not be the best hitter on his team at the moment, because Mookie Betts holds that distinction. Still: The best hitter in baseball, from last year’s All-Star Game to this year’s Midsummer Classic is Martinez, a guy who didn’t have a job in the middle of February.