Mets should really sign a DH, and here are the three to target -- ranked
With about three weeks until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, an almost impossible-to-believe 163 free agents remain on the market.
Yes, this year's free agent class is relatively weak, but the sheer number of players still out there this close to spring training is unprecedented.
Those without teams include some of the highest-profile free agents, such as Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery and Matt Chapman.
As far as how 163 free agents still being out there impacts the Mets...
It should allow them to easily bolster their bullpen with a couple of legitimate arms -- something they haven't yet added this offseason, but certainly will.
If they choose to sign a DH, they still have most of the best options to choose from.
And the Mets really should sign a DH.
Could it work out if they hand the job to Mark Vientos? Sure. But it would seem like an incomplete offseason to seriously address the rotation, add a starting outfielder and add legitimate relief help (which will happen in the coming weeks), but leave the DH spot in flux -- especially in a lineup with several question marks that is in serious need of more power.
Here are the free agent DH options the Mets should have on their radar, ranked...
3. Justin Turner
Turner was linked to the Mets earlier in the offseason, but there hasn't been much buzz about him recently.
Entering his age-39 season, Turner remains a very productive offensive player, coming off a season where he slashed .276/.345/.455 with 23 homers, 31 doubles and 96 RBI in 146 games for the Boston Red Sox.
But while Turner is still a strong hitter and has the ability to play three infield spots, the main ding against him is that he's the player on this list with the least amount of power.
It's also fair to wonder just how much Turner (who was Boston's DH for 98 games last season) would be able to provide in the event the Mets wanted to use him in a hybrid role where he played the field a good amount.
Turner played just seven games at third base in 2023 and 10 games at second base. He spent most of his time in the field at first base (41 games) but would be blocked there in New York by Pete Alonso.
2. J.D. Martinez
Martinez, 36, is coming off a stellar season for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In 113 games -- all but three at DH -- he slashed .271/.321/.572 with 33 homers, 27 doubles and 103 RBI. That .572 slugging percentage was Martinez's highest since 2018, when he finished fourth in MVP voting with the Boston Red Sox.
Martinez has dealt with back issues during his career but has been quite consistent over the last five full seasons (the shortened 2020 season excluded), averaging 140 games played a year.
If Martinez can be inked on a one-year deal, it would be a perfect scenario for the Mets. But he'd be a strong bet even if the deal is for two years guaranteed.
The Mets badly need some more protection for Alonso, and Martinez would be able to provide it.
1. Jorge Soler
There was a report earlier this offseason that Soler might not get more than a two-year deal. And if that is the case, the Mets should be champing at the bit to sign him.
Soler, entering his age-32 season, has truly immense power and hits the ball incredibly hard, as evidenced by the fact that his Baseball Savant page lights up in red.
He smacked a career-best 48 homers for the Kansas City Royals in 2019, and clubbed 36 for the Miami Marlins in 2023 while slashing .250/.341/.512.
Soler strikes out a lot, but not at an unmanageable level, and he has had some issues with health -- especially in 2022 when he was limited to just 72 games due to various injuries.
But aside from 2022, Soler has averaged 149 games played in the other three full seasons wrapped around the pandemic-shortened campaign in 2020.
