Mets sign slugger JD Martinez with deferred payments through 2038

By James On Mar 22, 2024

J.D. Martinez has a new home and agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with the New York Mets on Thursday.

Martinez will receive a $2.5 million signing bonus, $2 million this year and $7.5 million in deferred money, payable in installments of $1.5 million on Jan. 15, starting in 2023 and ending in 2038, sources told the Associated Press. The deferred payments will allow the Mets to reduce their luxury tax hit from the signing. The Mets are expected to win the second highest payroll in the MLB for the second consecutive season.

Martinez hit .271 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs in just 113 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, providing solid value for the one-year, $10 million contract he signed before the season. Back and groin problems limited his availability, but he added a National League All-Star selection to the five times he made it to the AL with Detroit and Boston.

The 36-year-old slugger was one of the best free agents left on the market. Left-hander Jordan Montgomery – also a client of Scott Boras – is still looking for a new team in the final days of spring training.

Martinez moves into the middle of the Mets’ lineup and gives them another power hitter to pair with Pete Alonso. Both could become free agents after this season.

New president of baseball operations David Stearns had said the Mets wanted to give youngsters Mark Vientos and Brett Baty a lot of at-bats this season instead of bringing in a veteran at DH or third base. But now Martinez will be the primary DH instead of Vientos, who could still share playing time with Baty at third and mainly get opportunities against left-handed throwing.

Martinez has only played the corner outfield positions sparingly over the past two seasons, but he has made every effort to be a productive DH. Last season marked the first time in Dodgers history that the team had four players with 100 RBIs, with Martinez joining Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy. The 33 home runs for Martinez were his most since 2019, and his OPS of .893 also represented his highest since that year.

Martinez started his career with Houston, but blossomed after being released by the Astros and was picked up by the Tigers in 2014. He hit a career-high 45 home runs for Detroit and Arizona in 2017, then joined the Red Sox and hit the next year, 43 home runs. when Boston won its most recent World Series title.