MLB Rumors: J.D. Martinez, Mets Have Mutual Interest in Contract amid Angels Links – Bleacher Report

The New York Mets aren’t letting Major League Baseball’s luxury tax prevent them from possibly making more additions this offseason.

The Mets “are among teams talking” to former Los Angeles Dodgers slugger J.D. Martinez about a contract and the interest is mutual, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

“Mets owner Steve Cohen has apparently given the go-ahead to seriously discuss Martinez even though the Mets are over the fourth-tier, so-called ‘Steve Cohen tax,’ and they’d have to pay a 110-percent tax on any new deals,” Heyman wrote.

The Los Angeles Angels are also among the teams still involved in the Martinez sweepstakes, Heyman added, and the 2018 World Series champion is “said to like the idea of going to the Angels.”

The Mets are searching for a high-quality designated hitter to help out star slugger Pete Alonso, who has carried the load in New York over the last several seasons.

However, if they sign another player, such as Martinez, the franchise will be taxed 110 percent on every dollar spent above $297 million as it marks the team’s third straight year paying the competitive balance tax.

For example, if Martinez signs a contract worth $15 million, the Mets would be paying another $16.5 million in luxury tax, according to Mike Axisa of CBS Sports.

New York’s projected tax allocations for 2024 are at $312.3 million, according to Spotrac.

Martinez enjoyed a resurgence with the Dodgers last season after a rough 2022 campaign with the Boston Red Sox. He slashed .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 103 RBI in 113 games.

Mark Vientos is currently on pace to get most of the DH at-bats for the Mets this season. However, the 24-year-old has struggled this spring, hitting .194/.219/.419 with two home runs and two RBI in 11 games.

Martinez would add some much-needed power to New York’s lineup behind Alonso, who typically serves as the cleanup man, and would certainly be an upgrade over Vientos, who is entering just his third major league season.

As for the Angels, they could use another power bat following the departure of Shohei Ohtani, who signed a record-setting deal with the Dodgers in free agency. However, it’s unlikely anyone will be able to replicate Ohtani’s numbers for the Halos.

L.A. enters 2024 with Brandon Drury as the leading candidate to serve as DH. Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon could also see time at the position, but adding Martinez would allow those players to play their natural positions in the field.