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MLB insider offered an unfair, poorly-timed NY Mets critique ahead of World Series opener

This is all hindsight, no insight.
ByTim Boyle
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Oct 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez (28) reacts during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Oct 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez (28) reacts during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Shortly before first pitch of Game One of the 2026 World Series, The NY Post's Jon Heyman had a story published about what he perceived to be an offseason New York Mets blunder. We’re still doing this? 

There were endless mistakes made by the Mets last winter. Even the sensible choices like trading for Freddy Peralta had a tinge of err because of the way he was handled once acquired. Was he coached the correct way? Were the same adjustments the Tampa Bay Rays made ones they should have seen?

In either case, suggesting the Mets failed by not signing Nick Martinez last offseason is laughable. It’s especially funny when Martinez gave up 2 runs in the first inning of his World Series start.

Nick Martinez is an appealing option for the Mets now, he definitely wasn’t last offseason

There’s a lot to like about what Martinez can offer the Mets in 2027 and maybe beyond. He’s one of those types of free agents we’d think David Stearns would like. He’ll get a short-term contract both because of his ability and age. The $20 mutual option is a bit tricky as he doesn’t quite explode the Tampa Bay payroll nor would he be guaranteed the same sort of AAV signing as a free agent. The Rays paid him $9 million in 2026. It would be out of character for them to pay him $20 million in 2027.

A 15-6 record with a 3.10 ERA for the Rays this past season lifted Martinez up the list of potential free agents. In 2025, at 11-14 with a 4.45 ERA, he was more in the Frankie Montas category than anything else. 

Sure, the Mets could have signed Martinez. It wouldn’t have excited the fans as the team clearly needed a player more in the Freddy Peralta ilk. He could have just as easily imploded in New York the same way Peralta did. Heyman’s critique, while poorly-timed, was more nitpicking than a legitimate critique. Martinez has long been a swingman whose 26 starts for the Cincinnati Reds in 2025 was the most he made since returning from Japan for the 2022 campaign. Already 35-years-old while he was a free agent last offseason, he was only a miss by reason of hindsight.

Tying Martinez to the Mets because he attended Fordham University is one of the bigger irrelevant aspects of it. Martinez is from Florida and has played for teams all over the country. Certainly a fallback plan for the Mets in the coming months, we can’t classify him as a miss when he had a career year and is already 36.

There’s a lot to shame the Mets about. This isn’t it.

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