PORT ST. LUCIE — The longer J.D. Martinez remained available on the free-agent market, the more a clamor arose from within the Mets clubhouse to add his trusted bat.
Martinez and Pete Alonso are both represented by Scott Boras, and the Mets first baseman was vocal, according to Martinez, in his belief the team should add the veteran DH.
“[Alonso], I would say, was very forward with making it known to them that he wanted me here,” Martinez said Saturday at Clover Park, after his one-year deal with the Mets worth $12 million became official.
Martinez, 36, will hit cleanup, manager Carlos Mendoza said, bringing a layer of protection for Alonso in the No. 3 hole.
Last season, Martinez hit 33 homers with the Dodgers, but with teams hesitant to spend on free-agent bats over the winter, he languished on the market.
Now the Mets have to get him ready for the season, just as spring training is set to conclude.
Martinez has agreed to let the Mets option him to the minor leagues to start the season so he can build up at-bats.
Martinez would have to remain at least 10 days in the minors beginning with Thursday’s opener before he can join the team.
Pete Alonso wanted J.D. Martinez on the Mets. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“It kind of sucks,” Martinez said. “Obviously I want to break with the team, I want to be there for Opening Day — obviously that is a special thing to be a part of it — but I have got to get my body ready now. I have got to get ready for the season and the last thing I want to do is rush through it and get hurt, so I want to make sure I take it slow and build my body up to get back out there.”
Martinez had a $15 million offer from the Giants earlier in the offseason, but declined over concerns that his numbers would suffer playing his home games in a pitcher’s friendly ballpark in San Francisco.
“If I go there and hit .260 with 20 (homers) people are going to say I’m old and washed up and I’m kind of done and I am going to find myself out of the game,” Martinez said. “I wanted to give myself the best opportunity to continue my career in baseball.
“San Fran is a tough ballpark, especially when you go the other way there. Citi Field is not like that. Most fields aren’t.”