Why JD Martinez Is Exactly What The Mets Need To Become A Playoff Team

The New York Mets finally made a splash after a long and quiet offseason. On Thursday night, it was reported that they have signed DH JD Martinez to a 1-year, $12 million deal. This was a deal that was expected to happen.

Last season, Martinez hit .271 with 33 homers and 103 RBIs in just 113 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Those are solid numbers. The even sweeter part of this deal is the Mets increased their chances of making a playoff run.

How Does Martinez Signing Benefit The Mets?

It was pretty obvious that the Mets were in search of an experienced veteran who could help them reach the playoffs once again. New York hasn't been near the playoffs since the wild card series versus the San Diego Padres back in 2022.

With Martinez in the lineup now, you can rest assured that the team will somehow find a way to sneak into the playoffs. Winning the NL East is out of reach, but entering the playoffs as a wild card team is certainly possible this season.

If Martinez can stay healthy this year, watch out for the Mets to make some noise once the playoffs arrive.

The Mets Finally Found Answer To Their Weakest Position

JD Martinez gives the Mets some boost to their lineup. As a matter of fact, their DH positioning was ranked 25th in the previous season with an insufficient .700 OPS.

In addition, Martinez's ability to hit with runners in scoring position is also a plus. For his entire career thus far, he has managed to hit .298 with RISP with a .375 on-base percentage, a .550 slugging percentage, and a .925 OPS.

The Mets have struggled to hit with runners in scoring position a lot last season. They had a low average of .238 when hitting with runners of scoring position. If they hadn't addressed the issue now, then they would have been in even more trouble in 2024.

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