As Starling Marte prepares to make his return to the Mets, questions about his role and how the team will manage a crowded outfield have emerged. The Mets will have to consider how they balance offense and defense as they approach September. However, one thing is certain: Marte will be playing.
Carlos Mendoza, the Mets’ coach, spoke highly of Marte’s impact on the team, noting his batting skills, speed, experience, and overall presence in the lineup. Marte’s healthy return comes at a crucial time in the schedule and is expected to be a significant boost for the team.
Mendoza revealed that the Mets have a plan for integrating Marte back into the lineup, but he preferred to discuss it with Marte before disclosing any details. Given Marte’s extended absence of seven weeks, the team plans to ease him back gradually. However, Mendoza did mention that there is a good chance Marte will be in the lineup on Sunday.
Before his injury, Marte was performing well offensively, with a .278 batting average, .328 on-base percentage, .416 slugging percentage, and a .745 OPS in 245 at-bats. He also had 12 stolen bases without getting caught. However, his defense had been subpar, as indicated by his minus-9 Outs Above Average.
To accommodate Marte in the outfield, the Mets may have to move Brandon Nimmo to center field, where he has less experience but is expected to perform adequately. Jesse Winker and Marte, both of whom are not known for their defensive prowess, would flank Nimmo. The team’s best outfielder, Harrison Bader, will likely only play against left-handed pitchers and as a late-game defensive replacement.
This arrangement could potentially impact the playing time of Jeff McNeil or Jose Iglesias, as there may not be room for McNeil in one of the corner outfield spots. The Mets have utilized McNeil in the outfield against left-handed pitchers in the past. Ultimately, sacrifices may need to be made by some of the players.
Mendoza assured that discussions would be held with the affected players, but emphasized that everyone would still receive their fair share of at-bats and playing time. The team plans to implement a rotation system to ensure that everyone remains involved.
