How are these 3 DH options the Mets passed on before signing J.D. Martinez doing in 2024?

Just as the New York Mets were preparing us all for a year of Mark Vientos and DJ Stewart sharing the DH duties, J.D. Martinez agreed to an affordable contract. It has worked out well. Martinez has been a huge asset for the team. Although his presence hasn’t aided in improving some of his teammates, he strikes the kind of fear into opposing pitchers far too many Mets hitters are unable to. He’s hitting .312/.354/.468 with a pair of home runs in his first 83 plate appearances over 22 games.

Throughout the offseason, the Mets were in on a couple of different DH free agent targets. Whether rumored or speculated upon by fans, these three players were Martinez alternatives who signed for more money. Are they worth it or has Martinez outperformed them?

1) Justin Turner

Justin Turner hasn’t been a part of the solution for the woes the Toronto Blue Jays are facing. Playing in the American League East is never easy. Even with the benefit of three Wild Card spots, the Blue Jays face an uphill battle.

The primary starting DH for the Blue Jays is now batting .225/.292/.370 with 4 home runs and 16 RBI. It’s a huge fall off from what he did with the Boston Red Sox last year. Far from the lone Blue Jays hitter slumping through the season with one-time Mets free agent target George Springer slashing .198/.280/.290 in 2024, Turner’s job isn’t quite in jeopardy. The team happens to employ another ex-Met, Daniel Vogelbach, whose .171/.277/.317 has held him back from challenging for much playing time.

In theory, Turner still would’ve made sense for the Mets because of his ability to be a third base option in an emergency. Two errors this season in only seven chances might have the Blue Jays thinking twice about putting him over there again.

Signed for $13 million with no deferred money, he would’ve been a one-year player who didn’t do the Mets any favors in the luxury tax penalty department.

2) Jorge Soler

There was about a two-week period when Jorge Soler was someone Mets fans were demanding David Stearns sign. The 2019 American League home run champion, Atlanta Braves World Series ring holder, and a guy who went yard 36 times for the Miami Marlins in 2023 gave Soler a lot on his resume to think about.

Soler could play a corner outfield position at times for the Mets while getting the majority of at-bats as a DH. He’d eventually sign with the San Francisco Giants for three years and $42 million guaranteed. One of the higher overall totals for a DH signing this winter, the Giants haven’t exactly looked like geniuses for the move.

Soler hasn’t played an inning of defense and his .211/.298/.368 slash line would have Mets fans screaming. Through 151 plate appearances he has 6 doubles, 5 home runs, and 10 RBI. Once again, he’s on pace to strike out about once per game with 35 Ks after 37 games played.

His devilishly poor .666 OPS hasn’t been a treat for the Giants who were hoping for much more from him. Their streak of players failing to hit 30 home runs in a season doesn’t look like it’ll get broken this year—at least not by their DH.