TEMPE, Ariz. — The Mets are among teams talking to star free agent DH J.D. Martinez, and word is the interest is mutual, sources tell The 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.
The Mets like Martinez as a potential answer to solve a long-running lineup issue of protection for star cleanup man Pete Alonso, but other teams, including the Angels, remain involved for the hitting star.
Martinez has declined at least one offer, so his preference is no small thing.
Martinez is also said to like the idea of going to the Angels, who also have interest in the player who had 33 home runs, 103 RBIs and an .893 OPS for the cross-freeway Dodgers.
Martinez lost his job 45 miles up I-5 when the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani for $700 million (with $680 million deferred).
Martinez, who made $10 million last year, declined a bigger offer from the Giants earlier this spring, and word is that one big reason was the Giants’ extreme pitchers’ park.
While Citi Field is by no means a hitters’ park, it isn’t the pitchers’ haven that Oracle Park in San Francisco is.
Angel Stadium is favorable for right-handed hitters who hit the ball to right-center field as Martinez often does.
The Mets have some decent candidates to protect Alonso, but as in past years, no obvious guy.
Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Starling Marte are among the Mets who could fit that bill should they fail to land a full-time DH.
The Mets look like they have better playoff chances than the Angels, which could give them an edge, though there are more teams involved.
The Marlins are another team that’s shown interest, according to reporter Craig Mish, and while they’d presumably have trouble competing financially with the Mets or Angels, Miami is Martinez’s hometown.
Word is several more teams are in, but some are presenting “low-ball” offers in case his market doesn’t re-develop.
Those won’t likely get it done for the guy who was the cleanup hitter in the All-Star Game for the National League.
Martinez, 36, turned down about $15 million from the Giants earlier this spring, though it wasn’t about the money and there’s of course there’s no guarantee he beats that deal financially now.
The Blue Jays are another team that showed interest this winter.
The Mets earlier were suggesting the signing of a DH wasn’t all that likely. But they do strive to make the playoffs this year — Stearns told The Post he saw the Mets as “playoff caliber” earlier this spring — and talks are ongoing.
The loss of Kodai Senga, at least for the start, was a blow, so perhaps the Mets feel they need to upgrade their roster now to reach their October goal.
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