Mets free agent face-off: Justin Turner vs. J.D. Martinez

The pros of signing J.D. Martinez

There isn't a better pure DH available than Martinez. The Los Angeles Dodgers let him go in favor of Shohei Ohtani which is probably the only acceptable replacement they could have possibly come up with. Martinez may be getting older but still a few birthdays behind Turner and no real signs of slowing down, he could be the punch this lineup needs.

In his age 35 season in 2023, Martinez put up some monstrous numbers for the Dodgers. In only 113 games he managed to hammer 33 home runs and drive in 103 runs. He added in a .271/.321/.572 slash line to make sure everyone knows he wasn’t just swinging for the fences.

As far as offense goes, Martinez is much more of the number five hitter the Mets need to add than Turner. His power is unquestionably good.

The cons of signing J.D. Martinez

Martinez is no longer a player we’d see on defense at all with the exception of a rare absolute emergency. Turner is someone the Mets could turn to for help at third base if they smell smoke. You don’t put Martinez out there until you can actually feel your flesh melting. 

Questions of his health are actually greater. He slowed down in 2022 due to back issues but did manage to accumulate just under 600 plate appearances. Last season he missed a bit more time, logging 479 trips to the plate by season’s end.

Because of his age, the Mets may be forced into a deal longer than just a season. Martinez rightfully earned a contract for at least two years. The $10 million the Dodgers paid him last year will look like a bargain by the time he signs his next deal. Do the Mets really want to commit a bunch of dollars and more than a year to someone who’ll only hit? 

The verdict

Like you, I already knew my preferred choice was Turner. He can be had for one year. Martinez should be seeking at least two seasons after the damage he just did. There are certain types of players the Mets should be looking to add for more than a season. The DH spot isn’t necessarily one of them.

Martinez’s appeal comes down to how much power a team may need. Despite not feeling like they had a threatening lineup, hitting home runs came a bit more easily than expected. Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor each topped 30. Francisco Alvarez should get there in 2024.

The Mets cannot go wrong by signing either of these veterans. Each is a professional hitter in their own way.

Based on the way the roster is constructed, Turner will always make more sense for the Mets. What’s more, with power being such a big part of Martinez’s appeal, Citi Field isn’t exactly the most hitter-friendly environment. Turner is a more capable player when it comes to challenging for a .300 batting average while stockpiling doubles. He might be the older of the two, but he was easily the healthier one last year. 

There’s no kicking and screaming to do if the Mets end up with Martinez. It’s the kind of year where you either whine about everything or accept the positives. You know; one of those upcoming years where a 162-game schedule looks like 662.