Position: DH
Age: 08/21/1987 (34)
Stats: 85 G, 96 H, 9 HR, 38 RBI, .289 BA, .358 OBP
Advanced Stats: 1.0 WAR, .355 wOBA, 128 wRC+
Rundown
J.D. Martinez is a very intriguing option for the Mets ahead of the August 2nd trade deadline. A five-time All-Star, Martinez is a free agent after the season ends and may be on the move as the Boston Red Sox ponder whether to buy or sell as they approach the deadline. Last week’s rumor roundup mentioned that the Mets had been poking around Martinez.
The 34-year-old is enjoying a solid 2022 for the Red Sox, as he is currently slashing .289/.358/.461. Martinez’s power numbers are down, but the man can still hit. This year, Martinez is hitting .337 against fastballs. He owns left-handed pitching, slashing .362/.457/.594 on the year. For a team like the New York Mets that have struggled to hit left-handed pitching this season, Martinez would represent a significant upgrade in their lineup and at DH.
Splits help define how reliable a player is during the course of a season. Martinez is slashing .270/.330/.426 with seven home runs and 30 runs batted in against right-handed pitching this season, which shows that he is an everyday option, not a player that has to platoon to have success. His home and away numbers are also encouraging, as he is slashing .274/.332/.423 with four home runs and 18 runs batted in at home this season. On the road, he is slashing .305/.384/.500 with five home runs and 20 runs batted in. Martinez also has 30 doubles this season. Mets’ hitters Jeff McNeil, Eduardo Escobar, and Starling Marte are one shy of 20 on the year.
Many of Martinez’s stats are encouraging, including being in the top 8% of the league in xSLG and xwOBA. Martinez is also slashing .321/.396/.491 from the third spot in the batting order during his time with the Red Sox this season, proving that he still is a viable option in the middle of the order. A contending team will get a solid, experienced World Series winner if the Red Sox decide to sell.
Now, to play devil’s advocate, some numbers are essential to point out. A 23.6 % strikeout rate is high, considering his power numbers are down from years past. He does not pose a threat on the bases, and with the Mets already being a base-to-base team with limited speed, this does not seem to address the lack of power and speed. With all acquisitions, the Mets have to weigh whether the positives of acquiring Martinez outweigh the negatives.
Currently, struggling J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith have not cut it for the Mets as the designated hitters, that we know. It is no secret that the team is seeking upgrades as we inch closer to the deadline. Sandy Alderson addressed the team’s lack of productivity at the DH position a couple of weeks ago. The club already made a trade to acquire DH/bench bat Dan Vogelbach from the Pirates in exchange for rookie reliever Colin Holderman.
Package
Vogelbach was the first domino to fall, but we should expect the Mets to continue adding to their roster, including another bat and multiple relievers. Martinez is a Yoenis Cespédes-like option for the Mets as they move closer to deadline day. The three-time Silver Slugger may be able to provide a spark to a lineup that has ranked at the bottom of the league the last month in most offensive categories. With Martinez being a rental, the cost to acquire such a player may not be that high. The Red Sox are still technically in the hunt, though, so it may not be as easy to pry him away as it may say a Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals.
Regarding trade parameters, the Mets can interest them with any of their top-1o prospects. I don’t think it is that crazy to believe that the Mets’ farm system is a bit top-heavy. Now, the Mets are not going to move prospects Francisco Álvarez or Brett Baty in a trade for a rental, but they may be willing to part with Mark Vientos and a couple of their young pitching prospects. According to MLB’s Mets prospect pool, the Mets have a number of pitching prospects in their top-15. Dominic Hamel, Joel Diaz, Calvin Ziegler, and Jose Butto are names that may intrigue the Red Sox if they decide to bite on moving Martinez.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Mets might decide to pivot to both Martinez and Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez if they find the Cubs’ price on Willson Contreras and David Robertson too steep.
The Mets’ farm system is strong at the top but light in terms of depth. They might have to part with multiple prospects if the Mets want to upgrade their DH while adding a solid all-around catcher. So, Mets fans, does Martinez interest you if it means parting with Mark Vientos and multiple pitching prospects? Or should the Mets look elsewhere?
