J.D. Martinez joins Mets as special assistant after 2024 retirement
J.D. Martinez has officially joined the New York Mets as a special assistant to baseball operations. The move comes just months after the veteran slugger retired in 2024, ending a 14-year career that included a final season with the Mets themselves.
Manager Carlos Mendoza has already compared Martinez's new role to that of Carlos Beltran, who took on a similar position in 2023. Discussions about Martinez's transition began during spring training. His appointment was finalised after his retirement, with the Mets keen to utilise his experience both on and off the field.
Over his career, Martinez played for six teams: Houston, Detroit, Arizona, Boston, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and finally the Mets. He recorded 6,512 at-bats across 1,642 games, finishing with a .283 batting average and 331 home runs.
In his new role, Martinez will work closely with both position players and pitchers. Mendoza highlighted his positive influence during the 2024 season, noting how his leadership and skill set could benefit the team's development.
The Mets see this as a structured step, mirroring Beltran's contribution in 2023. Martinez's responsibilities will span player mentorship, strategic input, and on-field guidance. Martinez now shifts from player to advisor, bringing a decade and a half of major league experience to the Mets' front office. His focus will be on improving performance across the roster, with a hands-on approach to both hitting and pitching development. The team expects his presence to strengthen their operations moving forward.
