2 Mets Opening Day DH candidates already on the roster, 3 they could sign in free agency

1) DH the Mets could sign: Jesse Winker

Something close to yet not exactly mimicking a DH platoon between Marte and Jesse Winker is one direction the Mets could go. When Marte first returned from the IL, the two were sharing right field duties regularly. Then came Martinez’s September slump and both began to play a whole lot more. Winker did begin to sit a little bit more as he was also struggling through September.

Any fan whose adrenaline has yet to run out is ready to see Winker run into a wall for this ball club. He no doubt brought the kind of fun energy all fans come to adore. The downside is his defense wasn’t great. Combined with his Washington Nationals totals, he had an Outs Above Average of -11. Only six players had a worse number.

Winker belongs as a DH and only out of necessity did the Mets plug him into the corner outfield often. A better or at least more familiar left fielder, the trouble the Mets ran into was a declining outfielder playing somewhere he hadn’t often enough.

Sharing a roster with Marte made sense as the options for the Mets were limited at the trade deadline. Bringing him back means one of the two will always be out in right field. It’s okay if defense isn’t a priority. In fact, it might just help get the most out of both.