OUTJ.D. Martinez DH NYM Tue 4/16/24 4:06 PM
OUTJ.D. Martinez
DH NYM
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that it's "very unlikely" Martinez (back) will join the team on their upcoming road trip, which begins Friday in Los Angeles and runs through April 24 in San Francisco, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Based on Mendoza's comments, Martinez won't be ready to make his Mets debut until April 26, at the earliest. Martinez injured his back earlier this month while playing for Single-A St. Lucie, with whom he reported to for the start of the season after he wasn't available for spring training due to his late signing. He had been slated to begin swinging a bat Monday and is expected to resume playing in minor-league games later this week.
OUTJ.D. Martinez DH NYM Mon 4/15/24 11:25 AM
OUTJ.D. Martinez
DH NYM
Martinez (back) is expected to begin swinging a bat again Monday, and he should resume his minor-league assignment later this week, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
The veteran DH hasn't played for Low-A St. Lucie since last Saturday due to back tightness, and he received an injection Tuesday to speed his recovery. Assuming he gets back into the St. Lucie lineup this week, Martinez could be in line to make his Mets debut before the end of the month.
OUTJ.D. Martinez DH NYM Tue 4/9/24 5:25 PM
OUTJ.D. Martinez
DH NYM
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that Martinez is dealing with tightness in his lower back and received an injection for the injury, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Mendoza added that Martinez will be sidelined for up to five days, and he'll continue to ramp up his progress in the minors before joining the team. Martinez played two games at Single-A St. Lucie this past weekend and went 1-for-8 with two walks. He hasn't participated in baseball activities since then due to the back issues.
OUTJ.D. Martinez DH NYM Sun 4/7/24 12:24 PM
OUTJ.D. Martinez
DH NYM
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that Martinez won't participate in baseball activities for two days after reporting "overall body soreness" before he returns to Single-A St. Lucie's lineup Tuesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
EDGE Analysis
Martinez was looking to join the Mets during the four-game series in Atlanta that begins Monday, but that's no longer a possibility. The 35-year-old could join the big club for Friday's series opener versus Kansas City in New York, though his season debut may get pushed back further. Martinez's outlook should receive more clarity once he attempts to return to minor-league action.
OUTJ.D. Martinez DH NYM Sun 4/7/24 11:57 AM
OUTJ.D. Martinez
DH NYM
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that Martinez won't join the big-league club during the four-game series in Atlanta that begins Monday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
EDGE Analysis
The veteran slugger made two appearances at Single-A St. Lucie this weekend but isn't quite ready to join the Mets. The earliest Martinez could now join the MLB club is Friday's series opener versus the Royals in New York, though it's unclear if he's expected to join the team at that point.
OUTJ.D. Martinez DH NYM Thu 4/4/24 11:03 AM
OUTJ.D. Martinez
DH NYM
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday that Martinez could join the Mets as soon as next week for their series in Atlanta, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Martinez has been working out at extended spring training but will be assigned to a minor-league affiliate as soon as Friday. The designated hitter won't be added to the 26-man roster when first eligible Sunday, and it's not a given either that he'll be activated for the four-game series in Atlanta that begins Monday. The Mets' decision on whether to make Martinez available in Atlanta will probably depend on how he looks and feels during his at-bats in the minors. Whenever he's ready, Martinez will take over as the Mets' everyday designated hitter, pushing DJ Stewart to a bench role.
OUTJ.D. Martinez DH NYM Mon 4/1/24 4:23 PM
OUTJ.D. Martinez
DH NYM
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Martinez remains at extended spring training and will be reevaluated in 2-to-3 days to determine if he'll be assigned to a minor-league affiliate at that time, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
EDGE Analysis
He was officially optioned to Triple-A Syracuse a week ago but has not reported there. Martinez is still trying to fine-tune his swing after not signing with the Mets until late in spring training. He will likely join the Mets around mid-April, although a definitive date has not been set yet. Martinez will be the Mets' everyday designated hitter when he does join the big club.
OUTJ.D. Martinez DH NYM Thu 3/28/24 11:32 PM
OUTJ.D. Martinez
DH NYM
The Mets optioned Martinez to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.
EDGE Analysis
Since Martinez didn't sign with the Mets until last week, he didn't have sufficient time to complete his hitting progression in spring training, so he'll be left off the 26-man active roster ahead of Friday's season opener versus the Brewers. The Mets haven't indicated if Martinez will immediately report to Syracuse for the start of its season Friday, or if he'll continue to see live at-bats at the Mets' spring training facility in Florida. Either way, Martinez will join the Mets and serve as their everyday designated hitter once he spends around 10 days in the minors compiling at-bats, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
OUTJ.D. Martinez DH NYM Sat 3/23/24 10:02 AM
OUTJ.D. Martinez
DH NYM
Martinez will spend at least 10 days preparing to join the Mets after the season begins, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
It's unclear whether Martinez's preparation will occur in Triple-A games or at the Mets' spring training facility, but he won't be available to serve as New York's DH until after the second weekend of the season. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday that once Martinez is ready to make his Mets debut, he will bat fourth in the lineup behind Pete Alonso, per Tim Healey of Newsday.
OUTJ.D. Martinez DH NYM Fri 3/22/24 12:03 PM
OUTJ.D. Martinez
DH NYM
Martinez could consent to being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse until the Mets decide he's ready to take over as their everyday designated hitter, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
EDGE Analysis
While Martinez has options remaining, because he has accrued so much service time he would have to consent to being sent down to the minors. It sounds like he would be willing to do that in an effort to get up to speed after missing most (if not all) of spring training. Mark Vientos -- who appears out of a job once Martinez is ready -- could be used as the Mets' DH initially.