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Mets free agent face-off: Justin Turner vs. J.D. Martinez
Who is the better DH fit for the Mets?
Recent New York Mets rumors have linked the club to both Justin Turner and J.D. Martinez as possible DH solutions. Who'd be a better match for the Mets? You probably already have your own opinion on this, but like a grocery list or feelings, it sometimes helps to write it out.
Maybe by talking it out we can finally unite Mets fans on something. Would you believe some think Jacob deGrom had a better Mets career than Tom Seaver? There’s just no agreeing with some people.
The pros of signing Justin Turner
The need to sign Turner changed completely when Ronny Mauricio got hurt in the Winter League. Prior to this, Turner didn't make quite as much sense as a DH and occasional third baseman. Now he's one of the best available free agents for the Mets to possibly add in terms of talent and what he can offer.
Turner is coming off of a strong season with the Boston Red Sox. He slashed .276/.346/.455 with 23 home runs and 96 RBI.
With Turner, the Mets add a player with extensive playoff experience and some fading yet still existent versatility. Perhaps no longer much of a defensive player, he can at least provide them with protection at third base if Brett Baty gets hurt or is unplayable.
The cons of signing Justin Turner
Already 39, there’s always the risk of Turner falling off a cliff next season. He struck out a career-high 110 times last season but it did come with another career-best, those 96 RBI. It’s a fair enough trade-off.
Turner somehow managed to have more plate appearances than ever last year. We can thank locking up many of his appearances as the DH as the reason for it. Choosing him as the emergency third baseman comes with the risk of having a butcher in the field at the position for a couple of innings each night.
Turner is a short yet expensive commitment to make. The signs of healthiness were there last year, but would running him out defensively more frequently cause his sage to catch up?
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.
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