ORLANDO – The New York Mets might probably re-sign a well-known face this offseason.
Sources point out there may be mutual curiosity in a reunion between the Mets and free agent outfielder/DH Starling Marte.
The concept is that Marte might match as a bench piece, who can function a part-time DH and backup outfielder, an analogous function that he performed in final yr upon the arrival of proper fielder Juan Soto.
Soto and Marte are very shut with one another and Soto went so far as to inform The New York Submit that Marte was really the captain of the Mets given his management expertise.
“He’s actually the chief of this crew — I really feel like he’s really the captain of this crew,” Soto instructed The Submit. “He’s bringing everyone collectively. He’s bringing the power that we want. He’s a man who has been stepping up each single time, it doesn’t matter what.
“He’s really the true deal of the crew. He’s the mannequin of the crew. All people, once they need to speak and get to know one thing or have a dialog, they’ll go to him. He’s really the true deal.”
These kind of management qualities are essential to the Mets’ clubhouse chemistry, which could possibly be a part of the rationale why the Mets have curiosity in bringing Marte again. And the return of Marte would additionally appease Soto who would get to proceed taking part in together with his shut good friend.
Marte, 37, is coming off a season during which he slashed .270/.335/.410 with a .745 OPS, 9 residence runs and 34 RBI with a 1.0 bWAR in 98 video games for the Mets.
Marte has had a nagging proper knee harm that has hampered him for the previous two seasons. He hung out on the injured record with this harm in back-to-back campaigns. Marte underwent double groin surgical procedure after the 2022 season that affected his play in 2023, limiting him to simply 86 video games.
Marte’s finest season with the Mets got here in 2022 when he was an NL All-Star and slashed .292/.347/.468 with a .815 OPS, 16 residence runs and 63 RBI in 118 video games.
The Mets signed Marte to a four-year, $78 million deal forward of the 2022 season. He is now a free agent, however might nonetheless return to New York this winter.
When wholesome, Marte stays a productive main league participant that might present right-handed pop off the bench.
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