February 7: Andy Martino of SNY wrote this afternoon that while the Mets have indeed stayed in touch with Martinez, there’s still a significant gap between the sides financially.
February 6: The Mets have had continued dialogue with J.D. Martinez’s camp at the Boras Corporation, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post (X link). There’s no indication a deal is close or necessarily likely, but New York continues to evaluate the market for veteran hitters.
Last week, The Athletic’s Will Sammon reported the Mets were leaning towards relying on young bats like Brett Baty and Mark Vientos at the designated hitter spot. That came with the caveat that New York was amenable to jumping into the fray for a veteran free agent if the player’s asking price fell into the club’s comfort zone. It seems the front office is keeping in contact with Martinez regarding that possibility.
Martinez and Jorge Soler are the top unsigned DH options. While the latter has reportedly had recent discussions with the Giants, there’s not yet an agreement between the two sides. The Mets have only been loosely tied to Soler this offseason, while their reported interest in Martinez dates back to December.
A six-time All-Star, Martinez is coming off a strong year with the Dodgers. He connected on 33 home runs over 479 trips to the plate. His .271/.321/.572 batting line was his best since 2019. In a typical offseason, he might have received the qualifying offer from Los Angeles. The Dodgers knew they were preparing for a pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, so they didn’t chance a QO that could’ve tied up more than $20MM on another DH. Once Ohtani agreed to sign with L.A., that forced Martinez to look for a third team in as many years.
There are some concerns with Martinez, even as he profiles as one of the best offensive players still available. He’ll turn 37 in August and is essentially limited to DH. Martinez was never a good defensive outfielder and has only started one game in left field over the last two seasons.
Last year’s power resurgence also came at the cost of a few more whiffs. Martinez punched out in a personal-high 31.1% of his plate appearances. He only made contact on 67.5% of his swings, the lowest rate of his career. So long as he continues hitting the ball as hard as he did a year ago, the strikeouts aren’t a huge concern. They don’t leave much margin for error if he loses any bat speed, however.
During his last free agent trip, Martinez inked a fairly modest $10MM contract. That was below general expectations and it seemed as if he took a discount to go to L.A., where he reunited with his previous hitting instructor (and current Dodger hitting coach) Robert Van Scoyoc. His camp could look for a two-year deal this time around. Even if he’s limited to one-year offers, Martinez should surpass the $12.5MM that the Diamondbacks guaranteed Joc Pederson and could look to exceed the $23.5MM which Teoscar Hernández secured from the Dodgers.
The Mets are taxed at a 110% rate for any further spending. They’re well into the fourth tier of luxury penalization and facing the highest penalties as a third-time repeat payor. Steve Cohen’s ownership tenure has been marked by a willingness to spend, but the organization has taken a more targeted approach to free agency during David Stearns’ first offseason as baseball operations president. They’re trying to strike a balance of remaining on the border of playoff contention in 2024 while looking to ’25 as their target for a renewed full-fledged push.
That’s nice to hear they keep in touch.
Getting all touchy feels like a Neil Diamond song
Very endearing. On a serious note, I am confused by the Mets approach (if this is true). They want to give the youngsters a shot but are considering a veteran DH? So Vientos doesn’t get a shot? Seems half in, half out.
At this point Baty and Vientos are the same player from opposite sides of the plate so carrying both may be redundant depending on the Mets roster construction heading into the season. Martinez gives them a legitimate MLB hitter and power threat to pair with Pete Alonso, which has to be enticing after watching Daniel Vogelbach do nothing last season
Unless they platoon Baty and Vientos at 3B.
But I’m not sure why they would tie up the DH spot with an older guy instead of rotating guys like Alonso, Marte, Nimmo, McNeil, and Vientos through.
I think this move make more sense since the Mauricio injury. You’re using one of Wendle/Baty/Vientos to cover 3B. Plan seems to be to use Bader in CF, which leaves at least one of the Corner spots to question mark production in the form of Marte/Stewart (and maybe Vientos on occasion). DH would be a combination of any of the guys mentioned … so that’s 3 regular lineup spots allocated to players who are either coming off below avg season or remain unproven.
JD is an impact bat that offers lineup protection for Alonso. Yes – he consumes the DH spot when he plays, but there would still be plenty opportunities in the 1H for those guys at 3B and LF. He also won’t play everyday. Injuries happen as well – and the Mets have less than inspiring offensive depth (it’s building but many not MLB ready until late season). Nimmo, Lindor, Alonso are currently the only sure bet to have above average offensive production… what do they do if there is an injury to their ‘big 3’. (Writing that statement, it’s so dumbfounding that this is a $300m payroll)
It’s the Mets.
But not the Wilpon Mets. Trust the process.
Looking more and more like the Coupons to me – this is a 70 win team at this point – Cohen bailed on us last yr and made some bad trades unloading players – the suspects should have been better considering how much salary the Mets ate in trades – this is by no means a playoff team or even an outside shot – Pete will be traded by Mid July and Senga will opt out after 2025
I think it’s more to satisfy the fan base, to state they’re involved. many fans aren’t thrilled with the limited activity. yet they don’t listen to why… the team’s trying to reset the budget and can go back at it next year. but my beloved met fans want action. I am all for letting the kids have a damn chance! but many after seeing the spending the last few years, and of course not playing with THEIR own money… exp CT the team to spend ridiculously as in the past.
More importantly, significant money is being spent bringing the organization’s infrastructure up to date to operate more like other successful franchises.
agreed baron!
This team will need too many pieces next winter to be a playoff team – they needed to add this winter and went dumpster diving – dont go to the game – ticket prices need to come down – dont pay to watch a lousy team
@LOL: What Cohen is doing differently from the Wilpons, which impatient fans like you either don’t see or choose for some reason to ignore, is spending significant money to hire the right people and initiate organizational policies and processes to bring the Mets’ operations into the 2020s and be run like other successful franchises like the Astros, Braves, Dodgers, and Orioles.
This transition will do more to bring success on the field in the coming seasons than signing one veteran free agent or another.
Cohen is not stupid and didn’t get where he is by being stupid like Jeff Wilpon.
That’s what I mean by trust the process.
I am not being impatient – by not adding some pieces this off season only makes next off season more tougher building a playoff team – Mets have needed to put more $$$$ into scouting and find better scouts – Cohen has had success in the type of field he is in but appears to be stupid on baseball – hiring the current GM was not a good move tho the old GM was a loser and needed to hit the door – as a long time Met fan I have heard it all – there is no trust at this point
Trading away both Verlander and Scherzer was confusing. Who knows what they do at this point
It wasn’t confusing at all. They were pivoting from trying to win with older players to rebuilding the farm system and organization.
I don’t see a clear rebuild, but okay. They were in contention, not so much now
Not last year. And the prospects they brought back have pushed the farm system into the top 7 or 8.
The rebuild is a bit confusing because theyre kinda half pregnant. They have lindor and Nimmo on long term deals consuming significant budget – and want to accelerate a rebuild while they are still ‘prime’ … but are hesitant to move Alonso , despite that position being (probably) the easiest and most cost efficient to address in free agency.
In my book Martinez is an older player as well.
In reality. Not in any book.
That’s basically what I was referring to
These players the Mets got back are SUSPECTS – they have not proven a thing yet – when I go to St Lucie this month and watch the farm guys I can get a better look and see if we got something – Mets could have done better with the Texas and Houston trades eating as much $$$ as they did
Its called Cohen punting on this yr – I call it being cheap – if you dont intend to put a quality team on the field then drop your ticket prices – afterall Cohen has plenty of cash and well you cant take it with you
I’m kind of surprised Arizona didn’t try harder to bring him back. He shouldn’t cost a huge amount more than they paid Pederson, and his ceiling is still considerably higher in my opinion. Pederson still hits righties well, but he can’t hit lefties at all and his power numbers were a bit down last season.
I can’t believe money AZ guaranteed Pederson!!!!!! I agree with signing JD instead but Boras has some Tito say about that lol..
We’ll never know how much JD wanted when Joc signed but it was likely a lot more. I felt better about JD with what he did in AZ, but Joc is likely a better fit. He is motivated to rebuild value and it will be huge that the ball carried more at Chase.
Hard to gauge how real or how serious this lead is.
Hence “Rumor.”
Of course yes. But NYM being “connected” to certain players has been pretty unreliable this off-season
Mets gonna do what they do and overpay 4 years 120MM.
Meanwhile the Dodgers hit that for one year and like 12 Million ^_^
The Mets like JD Martinez but do the Like Like him is the question?
JD if you are gonna be around a dirty franchise like the Mets remember to wear a rubber.
What an amazingly dumb post, even for a Braves fan.
Don’t worry I can easily top that lol
LOL!
Meh, Padres!
It seems like most stories about the Mets having an interest in a player results in that player signing with another team in a matter of days.
Mets try to make it sound like they are in on a player but its an old Jedi mind trick – when the other team signs the player Mets say well we tried but he went someplace else – dont fall for this stuff – Cohen took lessons from the Wilpons – just look at the GM the Mets hired – Brewers didnt want him and he fired a HOF manager and hired a bozo to take over — 70 win team at best
As a Dodger fan, wanted him back for 2024 (despite missing 35-40 games) as he was productive and a great clubhouse presence. That Shohei guy got in the way tho. Seemed to mostly work in 2023 since Will Smith would often DH and get an extended break from behind the plate when Martinez was out. Best wishes to JD.
Mariners, not Mets.
I still think the Ms are going to wind up with their hometown hero, Snell, so they won’t be spending more on a DH.
I think JD takes another one-year deal although he’s probably asking for 18-20 million. I have him going to the Diamondbacks in the contest, but I’m not so sure now.
My question is: What would the value of JD Martinez be, if he had any defensive value? Even if he learned to just play some 1B. His value would at least be around what Jose Abreu signed for with Houston, right?
Abreu has a track record of being able to mam 1B without embarrassing himself. I don’t think JDM has the skillset to do the same even if he had managed to learn it a few years ago.
Walk away, Steve!
Who else just wants to see J.D. Martinez sport his uniform with his full initials and last name on the back?
Cashman unload Stanton and sign JD
What a pipe dream.
I would definitely not mind him returning to the Tigers on a one year deal. They need a RH power bat. It will all depend on Greene’s ability to play the field at the start of the season. Unlike the Mets, salary isn’t the isue. Lol
JD is a perfect fit for Cleveland except Dolan refuses to spend.
Martinez is probably looking for $15M at least on a one-year, and CLE wouldn’t pay that much for Babe Ruth’s best year. The move I see them making is signing Aaron Altherr to a one year prove it deal for around $5M.
Jd, how you doing man? How’s the wife and kids? Tell your mother I say hi.
Signed,
New york mets
It’s so cute, maybe they’ll go to Sadie Hawkins together.
I’m sure JD, Soler, Bellinger, Chapman Snell and Montgomery asking prices are coming down the Mets should sign 1 of those bats and 1 of those pitchers or Bauer, the team as it sits right now are not very competitive
Mets arent signing any of those guys – I cant wait to see what type of propaganda the Mets come up with when Pete is traded mid yr
I’d love to see JD DH for the Rays for a couple of years. Maybe they can move Harold Ramirez on the cheap side.
it would be cool to see him sign with Miami since he’s from the area. He could be a veteran leader in the clubhouse, too
Mets got cheap! Sides far apart! What a joke!
Not if he’s asking for a crapload of money, or for two years. That would mean the Mets got smart
Oh I forgot they are paying a boat load of money for two pitchers they traded 🙂
Why would the Mets sign him? He’d help. The Angels should get him to replace Ohtani.
That’s so cute!
Profoundly, almost perfectly idiotic, unless they’ve given up on Baty and Vientos entirely, given those two are far more likely to succeed at DH if they succeed anywhere at all.
Hitting .927 and .999 respectively at AAA for a prospect is far rarer than you’d think. To block them at what’s apparently their natural position, ie not in the field, seems at the least… odd.
Stearns reportedly isn’t stupid, so why spend $34m so far on pitching (plus $37m in penalties) that’s projected for below average ERAs in 2024 when he already had plenty of that after Senga and Quintana, then another $12m on relievers who also project for below average ERAs in 2024, then seriously consider throwing another $10+m (plus $11m+ in penalties) into the pot for a DH? How are these a wise expenditures, especially since Stearns spent enough to get real players?
(In addition, if these moves are double-secret genius, why did he have to pay so much to get such weak production?)
On top of that, if you’re spending $56m (plus $62m in etc) just to guarantee you stay out of the Nationals-A’s-Rockies tier by getting below average (but not TOO below average) production from 6-7 roster spots, why would you then be seriously considering blocking your only two young players who’ll start the year with the team?
The Mets simply don’t have enough good players to contend by firming up the butt end of the roster. They need more good players (a lot more good players) considering they have just 5 guys who were worth as much as 2 WAR in 2023 who are still with the team, and they haven’t added a single player who projects to 2 WAR in 2024. You can’t win this way unless those 5 players are Trout, Ohtani, and the like. The Red Sox had twice as many 2+ win guys and won 78 games. As for the experienced relievers they added, all project to replacement level despite going for around $4m apiece.
Maybe the early reviews were correct and Stearns really is an idiot?
(Presumably he’s not, so if you can figure this one out, please have at it…)
Just sink or swim with Vientos.
No, that will ruin him like it did with JD Davis. Then he’ll be traded and play every day at 3rd or 1st and be a great player for someone else. You don’t make a young player a DH. Just name me one who came up as a minor leaguer and was made a DH and actually succeded.
Well then how does he get at bats? First base is spoken for and Vientos wasn’t good at third.
watching him rake for the Dodgers last year its hard to understand why someone wouldn’t want the guy. thought the dbacks would grab him. asking price or years must be high
I’m thinking he must be looking for 2/$30M which nobody will agree to.
He’s now a 110 game DH. He seems to miss a month and half every year for some ailment.
The Mets are looking for one year deals. 1/13M should do it.
The only reason Mets are ‘still in contact’ with Martinez is because the Guardians have No f*****g money to spend.
That’s it. That’s why we’re here.
Just think if they signed Martinez last season, the Mets may still have verlander and scherzer on their payroll, oh wait, I meant team. They continue to pay these two to play on other teams.
The Mets have never been able to figure out the DH position since it became universal. You go out and sign a JD Martinez because he’s a professional proven DH. You don’t place a young player like Vientos & or Baty at the position, They ruined JD Davis by trying to make him a DH and they will ruin Vientos or Baty the same way.