Ex-Dodger Martinez, Mets agree on contract

J.D. Martinez has a new home, agreeing to a $12 million, oneyear contract with the New York Mets on Thursday.

Martinez hit .271 with 33 homers and 103 RBIs in just 113 games last year for the Dodgers, providing solid value on the one-year, $10 million contract he signed before the season. He added a National League All-Star selection to the five times he made it in the AL with Detroit and Boston.

The 36-year-old slugger was one of the top free agents left on the market. Left-hander Jordan Montgomery — another Scott Boras client — is still looking for a new team.

Martinez slots right into the middle of the Mets' lineup and gives them another much-needed power hitter to pair with Pete Alonso.

Martinez has played the corner outfield spots only sparingly the past two seasons, but he has given every indication he can be a productive DH. Last season was the first time in Dodgers history the team had four players with 100 RBIs, with Martinez joining Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy.

The 33 home runs for Martinez were his most since 2019.

Martinez began his career with Houston but blossomed after being released by the Astros and picked up by the Tigers in 2014. He hit a career-high 45 homers for Detroit and Arizona in 2017, then joined the Red Sox and hit 43 the following year.

He has 315 home runs over 13 major league seasons.

Lorenzen to Rangers

Right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen has reached agreement on a one-year contract worth $4.5 million with the Texas Rangers.

After going 5-7 with a 3.58 ERA and making the All-Star Game with the Tigers last season, the former Fullerton High and Cal State Fullerton standout was dealt to Philadelphia at the trade deadline.

In his first home start for his new team on Aug. 9, he threw a career-high 124 pitches and hurled the 14th no-hitter in Phillies history with a 7-0 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Lorenzen went 2-2 with a 7.96 ERA in his next five starts and was dropped from the Phillies' rotation. His past four appearances were out of the bullpen.

Overall in 2023, he combined to go 9-9 with a 4.18 ERA during the regular season.

Lorenzen pitched the first seven seasons of his big league career with the Cincinnati Reds after being selected in the first round of the 2013 draft.

He signed as a free agent with the Angels for the 2022 season and went 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA in 18 starts before joining the Tigers via free agency in 2023.

In 379 appearances (69 starts) over nine MLB seasons, he is 4038 with a 4.11 ERA and 602 strikeouts over 724 innings.