Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell will not be 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 may be mutual curiosity with the New York Mets, stories the New York Put up. The Los Angeles Angels are additionally within the combine for the six-time All-Star.
For the Mets, 2024 is predicted to be one thing of a transition 12 months wherein 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 charge.
FanGraphs estimates New York’s aggressive steadiness tax payroll at $328.3 million, the very best in baseball and nicely 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 value one other $16.5 million in tax.
Martinez reportedly rejected a one-year, $14 million contract provide from the San Francisco Giants within the offseason. The Giants then pivoted to Jorge Soler to resolve their DH wants. Like Montgomery and Snell, Martinez is a Scott Boras shopper, 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 Crimson Sox, Martinez spent 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he batted cleanup within the All-Star Sport final summer season. He stays a premium energy menace and run producer, although Martinez ran a .321 on-base share final 12 months, so his offensive recreation is turning into extra one-dimensional.
4 gamers began no 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.
