Six-time All-Star J.D. Martinez has agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with the New York Mets, New York Post’s John Heyman reported Thursday.
Martinez hit the free agent market for the second straight off-season after signing a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2022.
The 36-year-old Martinez hit .271 with 33 homers and 103 RBIs in just 113 games last year for the Los Angeles Dodgers, providing solid value on 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 in the AL with Detroit and Boston.
His designated hitter spot with the Dodgers will be taken by Shohei Ohtani, who agreed to a record 10-year, $700-million deal with the club earlier this month.
The 36-year-old slugger was one of the top free agents left on the market. Left-hander Jordan Montgomery — another Scott Boras client — is still looking for a new team in the final days of spring training.
Martinez is a full-time designated hitter at this point in his career. He has played just 12 innings defensively since 2021
A veteran of 13 MLB seasons, Martinez has spent time with the Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros. He has won three Silver Slugger awards, received MVP votes on four separate occasions and was a member of Boston’s 2018 World Series championship team.
Over 1522 career games, he owns a .287/.350/.524 slash line with 366 doubles and 315 home runs.
Martinez is also a proven post-season performer. He has played in 33 playoff games and hit 10 home runs in 119 at-bats.
— With files from the Associated Press
