Now that Jorge Soler has signed with the Giants, J.D. Martinez is the best power bat still available.
Martinez had a resurgent showing in his one year with the Dodgers. He posted a .271/.321/.572 batting line in his 479 plate appearances, hitting 33 homers and 27 doubles while driving in 103 runs. He reached the 30-homer and 100-RBI marks for the first time since 2019, showing that he still has plenty of thunder left in his bat. The problem is that Martinez is strictly a designated hitter, potentially limiting his options as teams look to internal candidates.
The fact that Martinez and the Mets have remained in contact is not shocking. Although there is a sizable financial difference, the two sides are in communication, according to Andy Martino of SNY. But as Martino noted, there’s always room for a splurge when it comes to Steve Cohen.
Martinez would also mesh well with the Mets’ offseason strategy. They have been signing players like Luis Severino, Adam Ottavino, and Harrison Bader to bolster the roster. All of the players that the Mets have signed are either on minor-league contracts or one-year deals. Martinez would probably demand a one-year deal as well, freeing up space for the Mets to contend in 2025.
The New York Mets are a perfect fit for J.D. Martinez. Making the money work is all that needs to be done.