One of the remaining veteran sluggers on the MLB free agent market has found a new home.
J.D. Martinez will join the New York Mets on a one-year contract worth $12 million, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
SNY’s Andy Martino added that the deal would come with significant delays. The Mets will only pay $4.5 million of the total this season. The remainder will be paid from 2034-38, with Martinez earning $1.5 million each year.
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J.D. Martinez of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the fourth inning of Game 2 of the Division Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on October 9, 2023. (Harry Howe/Getty Images)
The Mets are notorious for deferring Bobby Bonilla’s contract, but many teams across professional sports use contracts like this to help financially. And that’s exactly what the Mets are doing here this season to reduce the luxury tax.
Martinez, 36, is another Scott Boras client who found a team in time to join the rest of the league in spring training.
Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his much-anticipated MLB debut in just one inning.
He was trying to find the right situation at the right price, but the team didn’t budge, even though the 33-homer slugger was a sixth-time All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023.
New York wanted to add more pop elements to the lineup with Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso.
J.D. Martinez of the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the Division Series at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on October 11, 2023. (Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Martinez had a great year last season with a .271/.321/.572 slash line and 27 doubles.
Martinez began his career with the Houston Astros and made his first All-Star appearance with the Detroit Tigers in 2015, hitting .282 with 38 home runs and 102 RBIs.
But Martinez’s best years were with the Boston Red Sox, where he helped them win the 2018 World Series. He led the team in RBIs that year with 130, which also led the MLB. He hit .330/.402/.629 with 43 home runs and finished fourth in AL MVP voting.
JD Martinez of the Los Angeles Dodgers before Game 3 of the division series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Elsa/Getty Images)
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Martinez’s long-hitting talent and postseason pedigree make him a valuable addition to a Mets team that fell short of expectations in 2023.
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