Dodgers Free Agent JD Martinez Agreed To Heavily Deferred Deal With Mets: Report

At long last, Dodgers free agent slugger J.D. Martinez has found himself a new home. He agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal with the New York Mets, giving New York another power-hitting bat for their lineup.

However, there is a catch when it comes to the contract that Martinez agreed to. It is heavily deferred, with only $4.5 million being paid out to him this season. He will then be paid $1.5 million annually from 2034-38.

Martinez put together a very productive year with the Dodgers in 2023, helping them create a historic offensive attack. Normally, he would have returned to the team but their signing of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to fill their designated hitter spot closed that door.

Last season, Martinez appeared in 113 games, slashing .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 103 runs batted in. He showed that he could still be an extremely reliable hitter in a contender’s lineup, so getting him for only $4.5 million is a steal for New York.

The veteran slugger had been waiting for the right deal to sign, even turning down a $15 million contract offer from the San Francisco Giants earlier in the winter. He now lands with the Mets, giving more firepower to a National League competitor.

Even with his short stint in Los Angeles, Martinez made his mark with the fanbase. The Mets will be traveling to Dodger Stadium April 19-21, so the fans will surely give Martinez a nice ovation when he’s back.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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