NY Mets Rumors: Shopping in a warm Starling Marte market

Starling Marte did himself a lot of favors in 2021. His years with the Pittsburgh Pirates were productive but often overshadowed by what teammate Andrew McCutchen was doing or had done in the recent past. Like all good Pirates players, his tenure in Pittsburgh came to an end with money as a factor. Now two seasons removed from those Buccos days, Marte is now a hot topic in this winter’s free agent market and one of the latest to appear in offseason New York Mets rumors.

Officially joining the fray this week alongside the likes of the Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies, Jon Heyman reports the Mets are doing their due diligence and considering a date with Marte for 2022 and beyond.

Marte’s 2021 stats are unlike anything we’ve seen from a Mets player in recent years. The .310/.383/.458 slash line split between two teams is great but it’s the 47 stolen bases that really stands out.

Mets rumors focused on Starling Marte will not go away anytime soon

Marte is not the kind of player you check in with and then move on. It’s not because he is the cream of the crop. The chance of seeing the Mets sign someone like Kris Bryant could fizzle much more quickly due who is agent is but also how much more high-profile he is. Marte is in the second-tier of the best free agents this winter, largely due to his age—33 for all of next season.

However, this shouldn’t stop his name from continually popping up in any offseason Mets rumors. The center fielder they’ve been searching for ever since I can remember, he would be a superb addition to the outfield mix whether or not it’s center field he actually does end up playing.

A right-handed stick without much power but plenty of speed to make up for it, he couldn’t be much more different from the player he would essentially be replacing, Michael Conforto. A two-time Gold Glover in left field several seasons ago, we could even view him as the long-awaited upgrade at that position.

Does it really matter who we match him as a replacement for? Marte is good and to see Mets rumors paying him some attention early on is wonderful news.

Thus far, the Mets have done heavy lifting in the free agent market. How true or not these rumors are, I’ll let you be the judge. It’s so obvious that the Mets should at least look into Marte that it’s a bigger baseball crime not to than to throw some stupid money at him.

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Speaking of stupid money, is this the winter when Steve Cohen’s billions go full Three Stooges on us?