35 Years of Misery & Counting
I’m not excited. Other than that my guess is that Starling Marte is going to see a lot more time at the DH spot with this signing.
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When Starling Marte and Buck Showalter set about building a relationship last season, each needed something from the other: Showalter was seeking a right fielder and two-hole hitter, and Marte valued predictability. Over the course of two conversations, they established an understanding on those points.
“Last year when I got here and he told me that I was gonna play right field, I told him, ‘Fine,’” Marte told SNY on Thursday, through interpreter Alan Suriel. “Like, I’ll play right field, but don’t move me, because I’m trying to get comfortable in a position that I’ve never played before.”
People don’t talk enough about Starling’s Marte’s impact on this team. Indeed, a healthy Marte can lead this team to a World series.
Getting spurned by Steven Matz didn’t deter the New York Mets from diving back into the free agent pool face-first. The Mets pulled off a Black Friday heist, picking up Mark Canha, Eduardo Escobar and Starling Marte on Friday.
Marte is the biggest prize of that trio. The 33-year-old agreed to a four-year, $78 million deal with the team, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Marte — considered one of the best outfielders on the market — hit .310/.383/.458, with 12 home runs last season. He added 47 stolen bases, and was caught just five times. The right-handed Marte hasn’t traditionally been the most patient player at the plate, with a career walk rate of just 5.3%, but that ticked up to 8.2% in 2021.
This move definitely strengthens the outfield. But the biggest concern for the new GM should be the starting pitching staff. BTW, we’re still lacking a manager too.
I would’ve loved having Marte in our lineup, but all the talking of us possibly giving up too much (namely, Brandon Nimmo) for him led me to believe that it was never going to happen.
I say no. Marte is a pretty solid hitter with some pop and a very good and experienced CF. But I believe Cespedes will play in 2020 and if so they could play Conforto in CF with McNeil in right. J.D. Davis had a big year last year and should be given every chance to be our Opening Day 3rd baseman with Rosario at SS, Cano at 2nd and Alonso at 1st.
