It wasn’t until the final week before the start of the 2024 season that J.D. Martinez found a new home, inking a one-year, $12 million deal with the New York Mets.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Earlier in the offseason, the Diamondbacks were among several teams expressing interest in the 36-year-old power hitter. At one point, the D-backs were even listed as the #1 destination for Martinez. However, they opted to sign Joc Pederson to fill their designated hitter spot instead.
Last season, with the Dodgers, Martinez attended his third straight All-Star game after posting a .271 batting average to go with a 33 home runs hit with the Dodgers.
Martinez also has experience with the Diamondbacks, having played a half-season in Arizona back in 2017. With the D-backs, he hit 29 home runs in just 62 games, which put him on pace for 75 homers in 162 games.
These numbers made Martinez a very attractive veteran to bring back into their lineup. Comparing contracts, the Diamondbacks saved approximately $2.5 million by opting for Pederson.
Initially seeking $20 million, Martinez earlier turned down a $14 million offer from the San Francisco Giants, as reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Stay tuned for further updates.
