J.D. Martinez DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Free-agent veteran designated hitter J.D. Martinez is hitting and staying ready while waiting or an opportunity to sign with a major-league team, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. It was reported in early March that Martinez was in contact with the New York Yankees with DH Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) injured, but the two sides were never really close to a deal. MLB teams probably want the 37-year-old Martinez to play for the veteran minimum after he declined offensively with the New York Mets in 2024, hitting .235/.320/.406 with a .725 OPS, 16 home runs and 69 RBI in 120 regular-season games. Martinez is a six-time All-Star, though, and clubbed 33 homers and drove in over 100 runs with the Los Angeles Dodgers as recently as 2023, so it seems likely he'll be given a shot eventually in 2025.

The New York Yankees have reached out to veteran free-agent designated hitter J.D. Martinez, but the sides don't seem close on a deal and they are unlikely to reach an agreement, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. The Yankees are looking for a veteran bat with outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbow) set to open the year on the injured list with no timetable for a return as he deals with tennis elbow in both of his arms. While it doesn't look likely that Martinez will sign with the Yankees right now, that could change if Stanton is forced to miss even more time. Martinez is 37 years old and is no longer the hitter he once was after slashing only .235/.320/.406 with a .725 OPS in 120 regular-season games with the New York Mets in 2024. However, the six-time All-Star still has some pop in his bat and could be a short-term solution for the DH spot in the Bronx.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, free-agent designated hitter J.D. Martinez could be a potential fit for the New York Yankees. With Giancarlo Stanton (elbow) sidelined and not participating in any baseball activities, they could sign Martinez as their temporary designated hitter. Martinez has been deployed exclusively as a DH for the past three seasons, which is not expected to change if he goes to the Bronx. Last season, the 37-year-old spent the entire campaign with the New York Mets, where he held a .235/.320/.406 slash line with 16 long balls. However, under the hood, he generated a strong .472 xSLG and a .351 xwOBA, which are both well above the average marks. During the 2023 season, he held a strong .271/.321/.572 line. If he were to sign with the Yankees, he would be the everyday designated hitter until Stanton returns. If the Yankees opt to cover that spot with players on their roster, Aaron Judge would likely be given several opportunities to serve as the DH to keep him off his feet. This would also open the door for Ben Rice to see consistent playing time as well.

New York Mets outfielder Harrison Bader and designated hitter J.D. Martinez are both starting against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday at Citi Field. Tyrone Taylor and Jesse Winker will retreat to the bench. Taylor has struggled in the postseason, going 4-for-29 with an RBI, so the Mets will give Bader a shot. Bader is a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI this year against Yamamoto, although he has just one hit in seven at-bats with a strikeout and three runs scored in 10 games (one start) for the Mets in October. Martinez made his first start of the NLCS on Wednesday night and went 0-for-2 with two walks and two strikeouts. He has never faced Yamamoto and has gone 4-for-16 (.250) with three RBI, four walks and a run scored in seven games (four starts) this October.

New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez will take over DH duties and will hit sixth in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday versus the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler at Citi Field. The left-handed-hitting Jesse Winker got the nod at DH for the Mets in the first two games of the series and went 2-for-6 with two walks and a run scored. In six postseason games this year (three starts), Martinez has gone 4-for-14 with three RBI, two walks and a run scored. Martinez has only faced Buehler three times in his career and has struck out two of those times. The 37-year-old six-time All-Star hit a career-low .235 (102-for-434) in 120 games for the Mets during the regular season with a modest 16 home runs and 69 RBI.