In the end, Dodgers free agent slugger J.D. Martinez has discovered himself a brand new dwelling. He agreed to a one-year, $12 million take care of the New York Mets, giving New York one other power-hitting bat for his or her lineup.
Nevertheless, there’s a catch relating to the contract that Martinez agreed to. It’s closely deferred, with solely $4.5 million being paid out to him this season. He’ll then be paid $1.5 million yearly from 2034-38.
Martinez put collectively a really productive yr with the Dodgers in 2023, serving to them create a historic offensive assault. Usually, he would have returned to the crew however their signing of two-way famous person Shohei Ohtani to fill their designated hitter spot closed that door.
Final season, Martinez appeared in 113 video games, slashing .271/.321/.572 with 33 dwelling runs and 103 runs batted in. He confirmed that he may nonetheless be an especially dependable hitter in a contender’s lineup, so getting him for less than $4.5 million is a steal for New York.
The veteran slugger had been ready for the fitting deal to signal, even turning down a $15 million contract supply from the San Francisco Giants earlier within the winter. He now lands with the Mets, giving extra firepower to a Nationwide League competitor.
Even along with his brief stint in Los Angeles, Martinez made his mark with the fanbase. The Mets will likely be touring to Dodger Stadium April 19-21, so the followers will certainly give Martinez a pleasant ovation when he’s again.
Picture Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
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