After agreeing to a $12 million, one-year contract with the New York Mets on Monday, JD Martinez now has a new team.
Martinez will receive $2.5 million in signing bonus, $2 million this year, and $7.5 million in deferred payments, which are due on January 15 of each year starting in 2024 and ending in 2038. These details were provided to the Associated Press by sources. The Mets will be able to lessen the impact of the deal on their luxury tax thanks to the deferred payments. For the second straight season, the Mets are expected to have the second-highest payroll in Major League Baseball.
In just 113 games last season, Martinez hit.271 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs for the Los Angeles Dodgers, showing good value for the $10 million, one-year contract he signed prior to the season. His availability was restricted by back and groyne issues, however
The 36-year-old slugger was one of the top free agents left on the market. Left-hander Jordan Montgomery – another Scott Boras client – is still looking for a new team in the final days of spring training.
Martinez slots into the middle of the Mets’ lineup and gives them another power hitter to pair with Pete Alonso. Both can become free agents after this season.
The new president of baseball operations, David Stearns, had said the Mets wanted to give youngsters Mark Vientos and Brett Baty plenty of at-bats this season rather than bring in a veteran at DH or third base. But now Martinez becomes the primary DH instead of Vientos, who could still share playing time at third with Baty, getting chances against left-handed pitching in particular.
Martinez has played the corner outfield spots only sparingly the past two seasons, but he has given every indication he can be a productive DH. Last season was the first time in Dodgers history the team had four players with 100 RBIs, with Martinez joining Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy. The 33 home runs for Martinez were his most since 2019, and his OPS of .893 also represented his highest since that year
