Former Detroit Tigers slugger J.D. Martinez has signed a one-year contract with the New York Mets, less than a week before the start of the regular season.
Martinez was one of several high-profile players that remained on the market late into spring training.
The New York Post stated that Martinez will be paid $12 million. The majority of the money will be postponed.
Martinez played for the Tigers from 2014 to 2017, hitting 99 home runs and posting a.912 OPS in 458 games.
In July 2017, the Tigers traded him to the Diamondbacks, and he signed a free-agent contract with the Boston Red Sox after that season. Martinez returned to free agency and signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It proved to be an excellent signing for the Dodgers. Martinez hit 33 home runs and scored 103 runs in only 479 plate appearances. He had a.893 OPS (134 OPS+).
However, Martinez is already 36 years old and will play only three games (12 innings) in the outfield in 2023. His lack of versatility hampered his appeal in the free agent market.
The Tigers had an opening at designated hitter after Hiss departure, but have chosen to replace the role with a
