Breaking news: The Mets cut off $78 million controversial slugger during spring training.
The offseason was hectic for the New York Mets. They brought back Pete Alonso, Sean Manaea, and Jesse Winker and added Juan Soto, Frankie Montas, and Jose Siri. Their actions have put the DH and outfield in a stalemate.
The Starling Marte has a $20 million salary for 2025 and signed a four-year, $78 million contract in 2022. He is a mediocre defender, though, and has lost his power stroke. At DH, Marte’s salary is too high for him to merely serve in a platoon. Joel Sherman of the New York Post claimed that the Kansas City Royals are a potential suitor and that a deal for Marte is not out of the question. Sherman pointed out that earlier in the summer, the Royals attempted to sign Marte.
“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,” Sherman stated. They also attempted to trade for Taylor Ward of the Angels and took into account free agent Jurickson Profar, who moved to Atlanta. As a result, Kansas City has not entirely ruled out Marte, who is nearing playing in the spring due to a knee injury and has had his position with the Mets restricted to essentially righty in a DH platoon.
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. Marte has hit just 12 home runs in the last two seasons after hitting 16 during his 2022 All-Star campaign. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets are not in a rush to trade Marte because he is not causing any problems and has accepted his role on the team. Puma stated that the team was open with Marte when they tried to trade him after signing Soto.
