Mets could lose $9.5 million 6-time All-Star to NL East rival

The New York Mets have had a busy offseason, highlighted by the addition of Juan Soto. However, they could lose some key players to other teams in free agency.

One player that could be out the door for the Mets is designated hitter J.D. Martinez. Just Baseball's Leo Morgenstern named the Washington Nationals as a suitor to swipe him from the Mets.

"After trading for Nathaniel Lowe, the Nationals don’t need a veteran bat quite as badly as they used to. However, their lineup is now very left-handed heavy. Lowe, James Wood, CJ Abrams, and Luis García Jr. all bat lefty," wrote Morgenstern. "The righty-batting Martinez could slot in nicely at DH, hopefully offering a nice upgrade over guys like Joey Meneses and Andrés Chaparro."

Martinez is a six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger. While he may not be in his prime, he was an All-Star from 2021-2023. The 36-year-old hit just .235 in 2024 following his All-Star campaign. However, he slugged 16 home runs for the Mets in 120 games.

Spotrac projects him to sign a one-year, $9.5 million deal this winter. He could serve as a solid option at DH for many teams. The Nationals could use him as a veteran presence to pair with their young stars.

The Mets would need to find a new right-handed option to play at DH. However, their primary focus is finding a way to get Pete Alonso back in New York. After Alonso makes his decision the Mets can turn their focus to Martinez and potentially replace him.

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