LOS ANGELES — In an emotional postgame clubhouse filled with free agents making decisions, J.D. Martinez made at least the first one.
The 37-year-old free agent candidate wants to continue playing baseball.
However, it has not yet been decided whether he will continue playing baseball.
“If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, we go from there,” Martinez said. Whether or not he's included on the 2025 roster will be very valuable around the clubhouse, with a nod who also has a background as a hitter. He said it depends on the team's interest in the hitter, but it also depends on who is calling it quits. season.
Coach Martinez said this immediately after the Mets lost 10-5 at home in Game 6 of the National League CS at Dodger Stadium.
In Martinez's case, that means he returns to Miami to meet his newborn daughter, whom he hasn't held since she was born. Martinez attended the birth in early September and then rejoined the team during the final sprint of the season, when every match and every win was needed.
He plans to go to his family, play the role of a father for a while and start training, believing “100 per cent” that he will play next season if the offer is right.
“This year has been great,” Martinez said. “It felt like a series of bad luck, but I think the numbers were as expected.”
In his 14th year as a pro, he is a six-time All-Star and a hitting whiz who is also a hired slugger who signed a one-year contract with the Mets.
He had a strong first half with 10 home runs and an .806 OPS in 66 games, but struggled in the final months of the season and postseason as Jesse Winker took away his time.
A reunion with the Mets seems unlikely, but Martinez is open to it.
“These guys are great. I had a great time here,” said Martinez, who finished with a .725 OPS. “After the year we've had, why wouldn't you want to come back?”
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Martinez spoke optimistically about the team's future. He becomes one of the Mets' many free agents, including Pete Alonso, Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Jose Quintana and Jose Iglesias.
Martinez watched his team get off to an 0-5 start, joined the club late, and saw the Mets fall below .500 in 11 games in early June, leading to Game 6 of the National League. He was part of a rebellion that helped achieve a stunning victory over the United States.
He said the club had a “good core” and he wouldn't be surprised if the Mets were in the finals again next year. But the longtime major leaguer believes the 2024 Mets were special.
“I've been on a lot of teams and been to the playoffs a lot,” Martinez said. “This is something I will always remember because of the group I did it with.”
