The Mets got one potentially big bat and possibly some ground toward being a real postseason contender.
The Mets entered Friday’s practices at Clover Park, with some players traveling to Tampa for a Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, with a new outlook on their squad in the wake of the club’s $12 million, one-year deal agreement with J.D. Martinez the previous evening.
The veteran designated hitter visited the Mets spring training facilities to get his physical, which is the final requirement before his contract officially becomes official.
In Tampa, Brandon Nimmo did not travel to serve on the welcoming committee.
In order to get more at-bats throughout the season, Martinez has committed to staying in extended spring training and participating in minor league games.
“I just told him that I am excited for him to be here,” Nimmo said. “I know it’s a whirlwind right now and we just want to make it as calm of a process as possible and get him his at-bats and help in any way we can.”
Martinez, 36, hit .271/.321/.572 last season while playing 113 games with the Dodgers, with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs.
After he lingered on the free-agent market, his signing provides the Mets with a solid bat at a deeply discounted cost. Martinez’s contract lowers the Mets’ luxury tax liability with a total of $7.5 million in deferrals.
Team owner Steve Cohen informed Nimmo of Martinez’s passing on Thursday via a text chain that also featured Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso.
“We’re never going to turn down another bat, especially of that caliber,” Nimmo said. “I am really excited to get to learn from him. He’s obviously been one of the greater hitters of our generation and it’s going to be real fun to get to be a sponge around him.”
Martinez’s opponent throughout the years, Luis Severino, gave the group credit for introducing a “old school” vibe to the clubhouse.
“He makes this lineup a lot better, not only with his bat but with his mind,” Severino said. “He’s a smart guy. It’s a great acquisition.”
Martinez’s Red Sox colleague Adam Ottavino predicted that Martinez will improve the guys around him.
“He’s just a very serious guy about his work, and I think that rubs off on other guys and he is relentless,” Ottavino said.
“When you are in the dog days he’s not letting his focus slip at all and I just think that is good to have somebody like that around because it keeps everybody a little sharper in those moments. It was pretty apparent when I played with him how consistent he is with his effort every day.”
Can we argue that the Mets are getting closer to the postseason as a result of Martinez’s addition?
“I would say that is fair,” Ottavino said. “It’s definitely going to improve our offense. Improvement is improvement.”
Pete Alonso will have Martinez in the lineup to provide protection.
When Martinez is ready, the Mets will need to decide whether to keep Mark Vientos at Triple-A Syracuse to get regular playing time or whether to move him to DH. Vientos was in position to potentially receive many of those at-bats.
Nimmo expressed his satisfaction with Cohen’s dedication to competing this season, despite the Mets’ desire to assess their younger players, such Vientos and Brett Baty.
“[Cohen] is continuing to care as much as we are and trying to work on this as much as we are,” Nimmo said. “We really appreciate having an owner like him.”