Mets: Why you should be thankful we didn’t trade for Starling Marte

Many fans were upset with the lack of offseason moves made by the New York Mets. This is why you should actually be happy that Starling Marte was not one of them.

Although this offseason has been a whole other level of hectic with the scandals and surprising trades, changes to the New York Mets lineup were seemingly obscure beyond the acquisitions of Dellin Betances and Rick Porcello.

As the news cycle branches off from trade talk to Spring Training predictions some Mets fans are not happy with the moves that have been made this season or lack thereof. One of the biggest rumors was that the Mets were interested in trading for former Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Starling Marte.

Despite many fans being upset, that we didn’t trade for the two-time Golden Glove recipient, we should be relieved and this is why.

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While Marte’s .295 batting average, 82 RBI and .845 OPS are enticing, the 31-year-old did not have something that is essential to the Mets in this upcoming season. What is it you may ask? Reliability.

While Marte’s offensive statistics are alluring, the Dominican Republic native’s defensive statistics are what made me weary.

We needed a good, reliable center fielder. We needed Mookie Betts, and maybe in a perfect world where we were willing to dish out the money, we would have gotten him. But in reality, Marte’s -9 DRS in 2019 was just one reason I was not crazy about the idea of him coming to New York.

Despite Starling Marte being a high profile acquisition with slightly above-average statistics, the main issue with what the possible trade was, wasn’t gaining Marte. It was what we would give in return. The main name that was linked to the rumors was our beloved Brandon Nimmo who we have just gotten back from a neck injury this past season.

Nimmo is 26 and still has a lot to offer and despite his rather long IL stint last season still pulled through with 5 home runs, 15 RBI and put out 46 balls in play in September of 2019. In comparison, Nimmo is much more beneficial to the Mets in regards to both talent and team chemistry as the players already know and love him.

One of the other assets we would have lost, and could not afford to was more of our prospects. Brodie Van Wagenen has already gutted our farm system by trading off many of our prospects to acquire players such as Keon Broxton and Wilmer Font neither of which are still on the Mets. The Mets really could not handle another blow to the already diminished minor league system.

Overall our current outfield lineup is pretty solid with Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and the new addition of Jake Marisnick. Putting in a potentially healthy Yoenis Cespedes into the mix as well if we had traded for Marte our outfield roster would have been rather crowded especially with a stranded J.D. Davis who will most likely be used as a utility player being placed where ever needed per diem.

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Not taking any jabs at Marte’s talent, we should for once be happy that Vanwagnen made a safe call and not waste the money on a player that we don’t need especially with what would have been on the table to give in return.