NY Mets should hope this creative hitting coach solution eventually changes his mind

Although the New York Mets are one of the best teams in baseball, there are areas on the team that need improvement. While the offense has not been bad, it has notably fallen short of expectations. Many expected the offense to be the team's calling card that would carry them to regular-season success. Instead, the pitching has dominated, while the bats have had to scratch and claw.

Due to the offense's underperformance, many fans have placed the blame on hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, blaming their approach and saying their strategy does not fit with the players in the lineup. The issue with firing these two is that it's difficult to replace them on the fly. While there are plenty of options, the best person for the job is JD Martinez, who'd have to be convinced to both formally retire and go back on his previous word.

Why J.D. Martinez would be a perfect replacement for NY Mets hitting coach

Since entering the league back in 2011, Martinez has been one of the better hitters in the game. Over his 14 years in the bigs, he has a slash line of .283/.348/.516, with 331 home runs,1071 RBI, an OPS+ of 131, and a 130 wRC+. It was because of these good numbers that the Mets signed him last March to be their everyday designated hitter. In 120 games, he slashed .235/.320/.406 with 16 home runs, 69 RBI, an OPS+ of 106, and a 108 wRC+.

However, while Martinez has had a successful career in the majors, it looks like his days as a player are at an end. Two months into the season, Martinez remains a free agent, and it does not look like he'll be signing anytime soon. This lack of interest is likely due to Martinez turning 38 in August and the decline in numbers he experienced in 2024, as well as his positional inflexibility.

This lack of interest in him as a player is what makes him the best possible candidate for a hitting coach. While Martinez is not playing, he has not retired, indicating a desire to still be in baseball. While he has recently said that he does not want to be a hitting coach, it might be the only way for him to stay in the game. It's something he was partially doing when he was an active Met in 2024.

During his time with the Mets, he was jokingly described as the "third hitting coach". He earned this nickname during the infamous players-only meeting that turned the season around. It was during  that meeting that Martinez had hitters describe their approach at the plate. Then, if the players strayed away, Martinez would hold them accountable and try to help them return to it. He also gave out swing advice and led several hitting meetings.

Martinez's advice dramatically improved the Mets' offense and was a large reason for the magical run they went on last season. Mark Vientos has given Martinez a lot of credit, saying he was a big reason for his breakout season. With how much success he had last season, plus the success he's had over his career, it would be smart to give him a call. He could be the missing piece the offense is needing to break out and live up to expectations.