MILWAUKEE — Nick Martinez, the Tampa Bay Rays’ Game 1 starter on Friday night, highlighted a missed opportunity for the New York Mets during last winter’s free-agent period. Martinez, who allowed two runs on five hits while striking out five over five innings in the Rays’ 3-2 loss, was reportedly high on the Mets’ list of preferred acquisitions. However, the Mets never made an offer, a decision that has come under scrutiny as Martinez posted strong numbers for Tampa Bay this season.

Martinez, 36, signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Rays after receiving interest from several teams, including the Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds. His agent, Scott Boras, who successfully negotiated a record $765 million contract for Juan Soto with the Mets the previous winter, failed to secure a deal for Martinez in New York. Boras also pitched players like Cody Bellinger and Mets star Pete Alonso to the team, but the Mets ultimately did not extend offers to either.

The Mets’ reluctance to pursue Martinez may have been influenced by the pitcher’s age, a factor that figures heavily into the team’s evaluation process. Additionally, the Mets appeared confident in their existing rotation, notably Freddy Peralta, who was acquired during the winter but struggled with New York. Peralta posted a 4.99 ERA and a -0.5 bWAR before being traded away mid-season. Since joining the Rays, Peralta has rebounded significantly, lowering his ERA by nearly two runs and earning the American League Championship Series MVP award.

Martinez’s performance this year has reinforced the Rays’ decision to sign him. He finished the season with a 15-6 record and a 3.10 ERA, while Tampa Bay won 24 of his 33 starts. He also led the American League with the lowest hard-hit rate against him at 32.4 percent, according to MLB Network data. This consistency contrasts with some of the Mets’ other free-agent decisions and casts the team’s winter strategy, especially regarding their pitching staff, in a critical light.

Martinez’s career prior to this breakout season includes four years in Japan with the Nippon Ham Fighters and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, followed by a 2025 stint with the Cincinnati Reds where he posted a league-average 4.45 ERA as a back-end starter and reliever. Despite his age and journeyman background, his strong 2026 showing suggests he could have been a valuable asset for New York.

Meanwhile, Pete Alonso, another player the Mets declined to re-sign last winter, has thrived after signing a $155 million, five-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles, leading the American League in homers and RBIs. Alonso was seen by the Mets as a short-term player with a maximum three-year tenure, a perspective that has been questioned in hindsight.

The Mets’ failure to engage aggressively in free agency last winter, including passing on Martinez and Alonso, remains a topic of discussion as their rivals benefit from moves that the team once considered but ultimately declined to pursue.