Nick Martinez's Success With Rays Underscores Mets' Missed Opportunity
The pitcher's strong season and World Series start highlight a notable winter free-agent signing that eluded the New York Mets.
Nick Martinez, now set to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays, was a player the New York Mets showed significant interest in during the previous offseason. Martinez himself stated that Tampa Bay was a top choice, but the Mets were also high on his preferred list.
Despite his current success, Martinez is not the most significant free-agent acquisition the Mets missed out on in the last offseason. That distinction, according to one assessment, belongs to Freddy Peralta, who had a standout career until his brief stint with the Mets. However, the inability of the Mets to secure Martinez, who went on to have a career year with the Rays, has been characterized as another "E" on the team's ledger.
Martinez's performance for the Rays this season was a 15-6 record with a 3.10 ERA. This strong showing culminated in his assignment to start the opening game of the World Series, a notable achievement that contrasts with his free-agency decision. Mets have previously been criticized for other notable misses in the free-agent market, leading to public scrutiny and fan dissatisfaction. Mets' winter acquisitions and decisions have come under review by analysts and fans alike, particularly when players they pursued or bypassed achieve considerable success elsewhere.