NY Mets non-tender candidates: 5 players most likely to be released

NY Mets non-tender candidate: Jose Martinez projected to receive $1 million

Another guy with minor league options, the upside of Jose Martinez might not be enough to invite him back. That’s because Martinez missed all of 2021 due to an injury he suffered in the preseason. I used to view him as a nice bat to have off the bench. Now, not so much.

There’s nothing to say about Martinez’s time with the Mets that we haven’t already said about Jed Lowrie. He was all but forgotten this year. By the time he was rehabbing, the Mets were in a tailspin.

At $1 million, Martinez is certainly an affordable bat to have on the bench or in Triple-A ready for a promotion. I don’t view it as likely. Missing an entire year and now being a year further away from 30 (he’s 33), shouldn’t help his case in returning to the Mets. It looks like Jo-Mart will need to settle on yet another minor league deal.

With bats belonging to Mark Vientos and Brett Baty nearing the major leagues, there’s not as much of a necessity to have weapons like Martinez taking up roster spots. I wish him well. I just don’t think he’s a fit for what the Mets need anymore. If anything, the club should keep J.D. Davis or Dominic Smith around to fill the void.