After a recent report that suggested the New York Mets were unlikely to add an impact bat in free agency, it seems the team is still in the running for several notable players, including six-time All-Star JD Martinez.
Over the last month, the New York Mets have been very active on the MLB free-agent market, yet they haven’t had that marquee signing fans have become accustomed to. Nevertheless, the additions of starting pitchers Luis Severino and Sean Manea, and outfielder Harrison Bader addressed the needs they had heading into the winter.
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Still, the bullpen and designated hitter position are the two areas where the organization needs to make improvements. Filling those holes with quality additions seemed inevitable for a team with the richest owner in sports, but a recent report indicated team president David Stearns was reportedly working with a $10 million budget for the remainder of the offseason. And that would make adding an impact bat impossible.
Many Mets supporters were disappointed by the news, as they had hoped for slugger Pete Alonso, more pop in the lineup, and an upgrade at DH. However, two recent reports offer some optimism thatFirst, according to SNY New York Mets insider Andy Martino, the team “remains interested in adding a serious bat to a still-incomplete lineup” on Friday. This is in addition to Martino’s earlier report that suggested the team would make a “splash” this winter for a new designated hitter. JD Martinez’s stats for 2023 are as follows:.271 AVG,.321 SLG,.572 OBP, 33 HR, 103 RBI, 61 R. On Thursday, New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman stated the hitting market, which includes players like Jorge Soler, Justin Turner, and Rhys Hoskins, is beginning to heat up, and the Mets are among the teams vying for one of those players. Heyman further stated that “Martinez would be an ideal” fit.
In 2023, the veteran of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox was named an All-Star for the sixth time. Martinez hit 33 home runs and drove in 103 runs in just 113 games last season despite turning 36. Due to the lack of output from the position last season, the DH specialist appears to be a perfect fit for the Mets in 2024.
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