The New York Mets had a busy offseason. They added Juan Soto, Frankie Montas and Jose Siri while bringing back Pete Alonso, Sean Manaea and Jesse Winker. Their moves have created a logjam in the outfield and DH slot.
Starling Marte signed a four-year, $78 million in 2022 and has a $20 million payroll for 2025. However, he has lost his power stroke and is a below-average defender. Marte’s payroll is too high for him to simply be part of a platoon at DH. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman suggested that a trade for Marte is not off the table and the Kansas City Royals are an option. Sherman noted the Royals tried to acquire Marte earlier this offseason.
“The Royals have wanted to obtain a veteran bat who can hit fifth in their lineup, and they were willing to expand payroll with a three-year offer to Anthony Santander, who instead signed with Toronto,” wrote Sherman. They also considered free agent Jurickson Profar (who went to Atlanta) and tried trading for the Angels’ Taylor Ward. So with this still unsolved, Kansas City has not completely closed the door on Marte, who is closing in on playing in spring (knee) and has had his Mets role reduced to basically righty part of a DH platoon.”
Marte has hit just 12 home runs in the last two seasons after hitting 16 during his 2022 All-Star campaign. The Mets are not rushing to trade Marte as he is not causing any problems and has accepted his role on the team, according to the New York Post’s Mike Puma. Puma reported the team was transparent with Marte in trying to trade him after signing Soto.
The Royals won 86 games last season and lost to the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series. Adding a veteran like Marte could help them make a deeper postseason run.
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