Former Red Sox Star Signs New Contract, But Not With MLB Team

J.D. Martinez still technically will be a professional athlete even after he retires from Major League Baseball.

Martinez, who still is a free agent after playing the 2024 season with the New York Mets, recently signed an exclusive deal with the pickleball company JOOLA, as pointed out by MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. According to the release, the veteran slugger signed the contract “to prepare to transition to professional pickleball after his baseball career,” and he “already has begun training” with a pickleball pro.

“I see pickleball as a sport I’ll be involved in for the long run and JOOLA’s commitment to the sport and my personal growth in the game makes this partnership even more special,” Martinez said in the release.

There’s a chance the 37-year-old’s pickleball career begins sooner rather than later. After collecting five All-Star selections in six seasons, Martinez’s numbers noticeably declined in 2024. He only hit 16 home runs with 69 RBIs over 120 regular-season games in New York, and he was a virtual non-factor across the Mets’ deep run into the National League Championship Series.

That said, Martinez potentially could provide more to an MLB club than offensive pop, including hitting expertise and veteran leadership. Maybe even the Boston Red Sox, with whom Martinez won the 2018 World Series, could consider him as a low-cost option.