JD Martinez signed with the Mets, turned down Giants offer because Oracle Park isn’t hitter-friendly, also states he’s addicted to the playoffs in bizarre interview

JD Martinez signed with the New York Mets last week but had bigger offers on the table.

According to reports, Martinez turned down a $14 million contract offer from the San Francisco Giants, taking $2 million less to sign with the Mets – citing concerns over the Giants’ ballpark as the main reason why. 

JD Martinez scared of non-hitter friendly ballparks

Interesting from J.D. Martinez on why he turned down a more lucrative offer from the Giants last month: pic.twitter.com/ZDsULKAnaW

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 23, 2024

“If I’m being quite honest, it’s not the most hitter-friendly park for me,” Martinez said of San Francisco’s Oracle Park. “If I go there and I hit .260 with 20 (home runs), people are going to say I’m old and I’m washed up and I’m kind of done, and [I’ll] find myself out of the game. I wanted to give myself the best opportunity. It’s nothing against the Giants organization at all.

“San Fran is a tough ballpark to hit in, especially when you go the other way there. Citi Field is not like that. Most fields aren’t.” [MLB.com]

Martinez isn’t wrong. Oracle Park has long been considered a pitcher-friendly ballpark and the 24-foot wall in right field is definitely a challenge for hitters like Martinez, who posses a ton of opposite field power. 

Still, it’s not like Citi Field is a hitter-friendly ballpark either?

Plus, it’s the New York Mets – a poverty franchise that might finish below the Washington Nationals in the NL East standings this season. 

JT Realmuto wants to win the NL East, weak-minded Braves fans want Atlanta to use it as bulletin board material >>

Again, Citi FIeld and Oracle Park aren’t hitter-friendly and the more we heard from Martinez, it became even more clear that this dude, while a pretty solid baseball player, might not be the brightest person in Major League Baseball.

JD Martinez also stated that he’s “Addicted to the Playoffs” which is obviously a wild statement to make given the fact that he signed a contract with the New York Mets. 

JD Martinez is Addicted to the Playoffs…?

JD Martinez wants to play in October pic.twitter.com/PBij1WrPTs

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 23, 2024

Martinez slashed .271/.321/.893 with 33 home runs and 103 RBI as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. In the Dodgers’ short-lived postseason run, Martinez only mustered up two hits in 10 at-bats (.200 AVG) in three games. 

Thankfully, the state of New York is filled with good rehabilitation facilities that can aid Martinez in his playoff addiction since the Mets will come no where close to October baseball. 

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