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.
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.
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