After months of off-and-on negotiations, the New York Mets finally loosened their purse strings and added the power-hitting designated hitter they wanted and needed just a week before the start of the 2024 MLB season.
The Mets were quite active this winter. Unfortunately for fans of the team, the signings of Jake Diekman, Harrison Bader, Luis Severino, and Sean Manaea have not sent chills of excitement down their spines. Despite having the richest owner in baseball, the organization was bargain shopping this offseason as they looked to pay off the money still owed to former aces Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.
- JD Martinez stats (2023): .271 AVG, .321 OBP, .572 SLG, 33 HR, 103 RBI, 61 R
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Well, after weeks of rumors that they could make one last notable addition before the start of the season, they finally pulled the trigger on long speculated deal with slugger JD Martinez. On Thursday night, New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman was the first to report the news that the six-time All-Star is expected to get a one-year deal worth $12 million from the Mets.
New York Mets finally get the lineup protection for Pete Alonso they had coveted
This is by far the biggest addition the organization has made to the lineup before the season. In 2023, they got very little from their DH platoon which included veteran bench player Daniel Vogelbach. And heading into the final week of spring training, it looked like youngster Mark Vientos was the odds-on pick to start at DH on Opening Day.
- JD Martinez contract: 1-year, $12 million
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Now new manager Carlos Mendoza gets a legitimate thumper to place in his batting order to give star slugger Pete Alonso some protection in the order.
The team had been conservative with their spending all offseason due to having a massive payroll after taking on the remaining contracts of Scherzer and Verlander. However, in recent weeks it was revealed that the team was holding close to $15 million available in the event they could get an impact player at the price they were looking for.
While many thought they might target a pitcher, Martinez was a player they had shown interest in for months and rumors suggested playing for the Amazins was a preference for the 2023 All-Star.
