PORT STREET LUCIE — The Mets have acquired another explosive bat and have a better chance of becoming a legitimate playoff contender.
Mets players participated in a workout at Clover Park on Friday, while others were in Tampa for a Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, but the night before the club had purchased J.D. Martinez and $12 worth of After agreeing to a year-long contract, he reported with a different perspective on the team. a million.
The veteran DH was at the Mets’ spring training field to undergo a physical, the last remaining detail before the deal becomes official.
Brandon Nimmo did not go to Tampa, but served on the welcoming committee.
Martinez agreed to remain in extended spring training and play in minor league games to get some at-bats into the season.
“I told him I was excited for him to be here,” Nimmo said. “We know it’s a whirlwind right now, but we just want to make it as gentle a process as possible and give him some at-bats and help him in any way we can.”
Martinez, 36, appeared in 113 games for the Dodgers last season, hitting .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs.
With his addition, the Mets will be able to acquire a proven bat at a bargain price after having been on the slump in the free agent market. Martinez’s contract includes a total of $7.5 million in deferrals, reducing the Mets’ luxury tax liability.
Nimmo received the news about Martinez from team owner Steve Cohen on Thursday in a text chain that also included Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor.
Nimmo hinted to the Post last week that the team would welcome a new hitter.
“We’re never going to turn down a bat, especially a talent like that,” Nimmo said. “I’m really excited to learn from him. He’s obviously one of the best hitters of our generation and it’s going to be really fun to be a sponge around him.”
Luis Severino, who competed with Martinez over the years, praised the organization for bringing an “old-school” presence to the clubhouse.
“He’s made this lineup a lot better, not just with his bat but with his heart,” Severino said. “He’s a smart guy. He’s a great acquisition.”
Adam Ottavino, Martinez’s former teammate with the Red Sox, said Martinez helps improve the players around him.
“He’s a guy who takes his job very seriously and I think that rubs off on the other players and he’s relentless,” Ottavino said.
“He never loses focus during the dog years and I think it’s good to have someone like that around because it makes everyone a little more sharp in the moment.” When you play with him, it’s easy to see how consistently he works every day. ”
Does the addition of Martinez bring the Mets closer to the postseason?
“I think that’s fair,” Ottavino said. “It’s definitely going to improve our offense. Improvement is improvement.”
Martinez will provide protection to Pete Alonso’s lineup.
The Mets have Mark Vientos in a position where he could potentially get a lot of at-bats at DH, and it’s unclear whether Vientos will still be on the roster after Martinez is ready, or if he’ll be able to triple in order to get consistent playing time. He has to decide whether to keep him at Syracuse, the A’s.
Nimmo said he was pleased with the dedication Cohen has shown heading into this season’s game, even though the Mets want to evaluate younger players such as Vientos and Brett Batty. .
“[Cohen] They continue to care as much as we do, and they continue to work on this issue as much as we do,” Nimmo said. “We are so grateful to have an owner like him.”
