Why signing J.D. Martinez should be the Mets’ first priority in 2024

The good news is that there are still plenty of good free agent players available. I’ve stressed enough previously of how much the Mets need more pitching.

However, the Mets could also use more hitting too, especially at the Designated Hitter spot. And the perfect free agent, who can bolster the Mets DH spot, is J.D. Martinez.

I believe that the first thing that the Mets should do in 2024, is to sign Martinez. Not only would be help a lot at the DH spot, but he would come out cheaper than starting pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, and probably less than his fellow hitter Justin Turner, who the Mets are also considering a reunion.

Martinez is 36 years old but he can still hit, and he showed it in a big way last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2023, Martinez hit .271 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs. He has been a consistent power hitter throughout his career and has shown no signs of slowing down, as we saw last season from him.

The Mets had little production from the DH spot last year, and so Martinez and his power, would bring a much-needed boost to that spot. Martinez would probably command a contract of at least two years, but based on his 2023 production, he can still be productive for at least a couple of years.

There are many options that the Mets can first go to in free agency in 2024. But Martinez should be the first and probably one of the more affordable options, with his projected contract demands and the lack of hitting at DH in 2023 for the Mets.