Ranking the top 5 free agent DH options for the Mets
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The New York Mets have been eyeing a lot of candidates for the DH position but have not gotten serious with anyone yet. Besides looking for pitching in free agency, this crucial spot in the lineup has been a focal point for them this offseason. The Mets need a big bat that could help the team win in the 2024 campaign.
5. Rhys Hoskins
This free-agent slugger is on the market after spending the first seven years of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are letting him walk and instead continuing with Bryce Harper at first base. He would be a DH fit for the Mets and could give Pete Alonso some well-needed rest days as well.
However, the Mets would have to consider the fact that he sat out all of last season trying to recover from a torn ACL. This is a tough injury to come back from and the team does not know exactly what version of Hoskins they would be getting. Nevertheless, Hoskins was an important part of the team when he was healthy in 2022 and he played a major role in the Phillies postseason run that year. During the regular season, Hoskins posted a .246 batting average with 30 home runs and 79 RBI.
He is definitely someone that the Mets should heavily consider for the position but there are better options to go with.
4. Teoscar Hernandez
The Mets could express interest in Hernandez in the near future, especially because he is one of the better hitters left on the free-agent market. Hernandez is consistent at the DH position but it is his versatility that makes him a better option than Hoskins. He can play outfield which is another spot the Mets could use some help in until they are ready to bring up the young talent in their farm system. Hernandez had a down year last season striking out a whopping 211 times in 678 plate appearances.
Hernandez still managed to put up some decent numbers slashing .258 with 26 home runs and 93 RBI. The only issue with signing him is his expectations contract-wise. Hernandez is looking to get a 4-year contract which may not be the best investment for the Mets to make. The Mets are not looking to give out a bigger contract on Hernandez now when they can simply wait until next season when they are going to be more competitive.
Other teams have been checking in on Hernandez's status, and the latest of those teams at the moment is the Boston Red Sox.
3. Justin Turner
Turner is up there on the list of free agents the Mets should go after. The Mets took a massive hit when prospect, Ronnie Maurcio, went down with a torn ACL in a winter league game. It could be a full circle moment for Turner to come back to Queens and return to the team that he began his career with. Turner is also a more reliable bat compared to Hernandez and does not strike out as much as he did last year. Turner had 558 plate appearances, striking out only 110 times in 2023.
Turner has developed into a fine player over the years, putting up great numbers with the Dodgers, and had a fantastic year with the Red Sox last season. He posted a .276 batting average with 23 home runs and 96 RBI. Regardless of his age, Turner does not seem to be slowing down and continues to prove he has a lot left to give to the game of baseball. If the Mets end up pursuing the veteran he will get reps at both DH and 3rd base until Maurcio returns later on in the year.
Also, Turner would be a perfect fit especially because the Mets know that he would be willing to accept a short-term contract.
2. Jorge Soler
Soler proved to be a prominent outfielder last year for the Marlins and was a key piece that led them to a playoff berth. The 31-year-old could level out the lineup and provide a ton of run support in 2024. Yes, Jorge Soler is another player who could provide versatility for the Mets because he too can play the field. The quality that sets him apart from the others that were mentioned before him is his arm. Soler has been known for not just the power he brings with his bat but his arm strength as well. This aspect could be a pretty big game-changer for the Mets because Nimmo does not have the best throwing arm and the only other outfielder on the roster that has a decent arm is Starling Marte.
Soler is coming off a season where he had a career-low whiff rate of 27.6. That number was the lowest rate of his entire career. Soler also displayed just how much power he has by hitting a grand total of 36 home runs while providing other enticing numbers to look at. He hit .250 and put up 75 RBI in 2023 as well. Although, Fans cannot forget about the 48 home runs he hit in 2019 for the Royals and the fact that he was a postseason stud for the Braves World Series run in 2021.
The Mets know the kind of production and the player they are getting with Soler which is why he is at the top of their target list.
1. J.D. Martinez
There have been recent reports that have stated that the Mets are "eyeing" the All-Star DH and potentially adding him to their roster. The first thing to take into account when it comes to talking about J.D. Martinez is the fact that he had better offensive numbers in every category than anyone mentioned on this list. However, the best part about signing a player like him, especially in the Met's case would be that he is a pure DH. This Mets team is not particularly looking for their DH to play the field, although they would not mind it if they did. They are heavily reliant on their future and with Martinez only being able to be plugged into the DH spot it would not interfere with any of the Mets prospects on their journey to the big leagues.
Martinez had a .271 batting average with 33 home runs and 103 RBI. The 33 home runs stand out the most considering the slugger only played 113 games, mainly due to a groin injury in August. He also had a hard-hit rate that ranked in the 98th percentile and an OPS of .893. Martinez put up all of these great stats while being just 36 years old. He is 3 years younger than Turner but a little bit older than the rest.
He might just be the best option for the Mets in 2024 and would make the biggest difference in the DH role. The Mets were the league-worst in this position last year with a .217 batting average and only slugged .391 which ranked 11th in the league as well. Fans are just going to have to wait and see as the Mets are looking to make some changes to their roster in the upcoming weeks.
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