Starling Marte delivered pure magic Wednesday night, playing the hero with a walk-off single against the Phillies. That clutch hit led to a 7-0 homestand for the red-hot New York Mets. But underneath early success and exciting moments, difficult roster decisions are simmering. The landscape in Queens has changed significantly, even potentially impacting recent heroes like Marte as the team navigates its star-studded lineup.
Despite that sensational game-winning hit, Marte’s future with the Mets has come under question. According to Brian Garmirano of RisingApple, the team may be thinking about parting with its veteran outfielder. Reportedly, the Mets are exploring trading options for Marte after signing superstar Juan Soto. Yeah, rumors say it has been going on since the offseason!
Team President David Stearns reportedly even met with Marte in the past about a possible deal. While no trade ever materialized, Marte opened the season platooning at DH with Jesse Winker. It is a role where he has struggled mightily, hitting just .167 with a 67 OPS+ through 17 games prior to the walk-off game.
Mar 3, 2024; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets right fielder Starling Marte (6) hits a single to left field in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
That walk-off bloop single, though timely, doesn’t erase a pattern of declining production for Starling Marte. His overall 2025 numbers through late April show a clear dip. He managed just a .186 batting average and a concerning .582 OPS in his first 43 at-bats. Afar with his .814 OPS and his performance in the 2022 All-Star Game (.292 average). While the flashes of clutch hitting remain, the level of sustained success that seemed to define his prime years is slipping away from the outfielder.
And it isn’t just his performance. The 36-year-old veteran has been facing frustrating injury woes, derailing his tenure with the Mets. Marte dealt with finger issues in 2022, then recurring migraines and season-ending groin surgery complications in 2023. He missed almost two months late last season with a bruised knee. He has not played in 120 or more games since 2021. It’s a troubling history that makes counting on him difficult, especially given his age.
Now, add all of that with Marte’s $78 million contract, now in its final year, along with Juan Soto’s historic $765 million deal.
Soto locks down right field for the coming years, shoving Marte mostly into the DH role. But competition is tough for DH at-bats. Jeff McNeil is also back from the injured list. Young infielder Luisangel Acuña has also earned regular opportunities. That combination means that Marte’s potential role appears to be squeezed into more of an expensive bench bat than a key lineup piece.
Cold-blooded decisions: The price of contending for the Mets
Marte isn’t the only player to find himself under pressure amid the Mets’ roster crunch (and lofty expectations, of course).
Reliever Danny Young has struggled, posting a shaky 4.91 ERA through early-season appearances. His woes come after a disappointing 2024 season, and fans get tense whenever he steps to the mound. Now, with reliever Dedniel Nunez nearing a return from injury after a strong 2024 campaign (2.31 ERA), Young’s place in the bullpen is on rocky ground.
Another arm facing uncertainty is starting pitcher Paul Blackburn. He was acquired last year, but only made 5 starts before ending last season due to injury. He’s currently rehabbing from surgery for a rare cerebrospinal fluid leak. And so far, the Mets’ starting rotation has been exceptionally good this season, with the best ERA in baseball early on. With established arms like Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas providing more options, there appears to be no clear path back to the rotation or even the bullpen for Blackburn right now.
But even with these individual question marks, the Mets are succeeding overall, posting an impressive 18-8 record after 26 games. They are leading the NL East, playing exciting baseball as their superstar signing, Juan Soto (.233 AVG through Apr 23rd), gets on track. But that success also forces management to make potentially cold-blooded decisions to keep the machine running and rosters optimized, even if that means you have to say goodbye to a player who was capable of Wednesday’s heroics.
So fans keep wondering: Can the Mets balance winning now with tough decisions on veterans like Starling Marte?
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