Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell aren’t the one big-name free brokers who stay unsigned with Opening Day two weeks away. J.D. Martinez, who’s coming off a 33-homer season, stays in the marketplace, and there’s mutual curiosity with the New York Mets, studies the New York Publish. The Los Angeles Angels are additionally within the combine for the six-time All-Star.
For the Mets, 2024 is anticipated to be one thing of a transition 12 months through which improvement takes precedence over rivalry. Mark Vientos is the first candidate to get DH at-bats this 12 months, although he’s 6 for 31 (.194) with eight strikeouts this spring, and his 65-game large league cameo final season produced a .205/.255/.354 batting line and a worrisome 30.5% strikeout price.
FanGraphs estimates New York’s aggressive stability tax payroll at $328.3 million, the very best in baseball and properly above the $297 million “Steven Cohen tax” threshold. As a result of this will probably be their third straight 12 months paying CBT, the Mets are taxed 110% on each greenback above $297 million. So, for instance, a $15 million contract for Martinez would price one other $16.5 million in tax.
Martinez reportedly rejected a one-year, $14 million contract supply from the San Francisco Giants within the offseason. The Giants then pivoted to Jorge Soler to unravel their DH wants. Like Montgomery and Snell, Martinez is a Scott Boras consumer, although the 36-year-old DH shouldn’t be in place to demand a long-term contract like the 2 prime-aged left-handers.
After a five-season run with the Boston Purple Sox, Martinez spent 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he batted cleanup within the All-Star Recreation final summer season. He stays a premium energy risk and run producer, although Martinez ran a .321 on-base proportion final 12 months, so his offensive sport is changing into extra one-dimensional.
4 gamers began not less than 10 video games at DH for the Mets final 12 months, led by Daniel Vogelbach’s 78. The Mets acquired a .220/.312/.403 line from their DHs in 2023, comfortably under the .245/.326/.430 league common on the place.
