The Mets should let Jesse Winker walk away
If the Mets sign any left-handed hitting outfielder this off-season, it should be Juan Soto, not Jesse Winker. Winker opened the year with the division rival Washington Nationals, where he put up some quality numbers. In 379 plate appearances, Winker batted .257/.374/.419 with a .350 wOBA and 125 wRC+. Winker's .162 isolated slugging percentage and 22.2% K% were slightly better than the league average, but the corner outfielder walked at a hearty 14% rate.
The Mets acquired Winker nearing the trade deadline for pitching prospect Tyler Stuart. But the numbers were not nearly as good as in the Nation's Capital. Winker slashed .243/.318/.365 through 129 plate appearances in NY. He cut his K% down significantly to 17.1%, but his walk rate plummeted to just 7.8%. He also saw a decrease in power production with a .122 isolated slugging percentage. Winker finished out his New York Mets tenure with a .303 wOBA and 97 wRC+.
It doesn't help that Winker's defense in the outfield is borderline unplayable. Winker had -11 outs above average in just 670.2 innings, tied with Teoscar Hernandez for the third-fewest among outfielders. This is par for the course for Winker, given his career OAA of -41. Winker ranked dead last in outfield jump as well. Winker has an above-average arm, but that's about it.
Underlying numbers also do not paint an optimistic picture for Winker. He was below the 50th percentile in each of expected batting average (.245) and slugging percentage (.384), barrel rate (7.6%), and exit velocity (88.6 MPH). The only noteworthy batted ball-based stat Winker was above average in was xwOBA at .329. Those numbers certainly do not inspire confidence when the bat is the only attraction to Winker.
Mets fans should appreciate Winker's Postseason performances, but it's time to move on from him. The Mets need a better hitter than Winker, and what he did with the Mets during the regular season, along with his underlying statistics, it's best if the Mets explore other options. Once again, the only bat-first lefty slugger the Mets should be setting their sights on is Juan Soto.