What a full year of a NY Mets DH platoon of Starling Marte, Jesse Winker looks like

The New York Mets are currently constructed to have a platoon of Starling Marte and Jesse Winker at the DH spot in 2025. Not yet set in stone, we could always see a surprise Marte trade and/or an addition of someone else.

The righty/lefty duo is easy to deploy with Marte getting the starts at DH when the club faces a southpaw. Winker will get his hacks against right-handed pitchers. Each had predictable splits last year. Could this actually be a viable plan where both players benefit?

If Starling Marte and Jesse Winker literally share DH duties for the Mets, here’s what the results might look like

We might expect some drop in the numbers in 2025, especially from Marte who is at the age where decline is inevitable. It doesn’t mean he’ll be abominable against left-handed pitching. Even poorly aging hitters tend to see the ball well against pitchers throwing with the opposite hand they hit from.

Marte fit this description last year. In 113 plate appearances against lefties, he batted .310/.384/.460 with a pair of home runs and 12 RBI. A larger sample size and another year on earth would probably result in worse numbers but maybe not especially if he’s getting extra rest.

Meanwhile, Winker hit .258/.366/.422 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI in 404 plate appearances versus righties. Combined, the result is 15 home runs, 61 RBI, and a .269 batting average. The OBP would be really good with the slugging percentage a little light for what we’d want from a designated hitter.

There are some at-bats missing from this sample taken from last year. Another 150-200 plate appearances could be added with a large portion of them going for Marte who missed time last year. Others would go to teammates who’ll inevitably get their hacks in as a DH as well.

The numbers bear out to look good but not elite. In 495 plate appearances last year, J.D. Martinez batted .235/.320/.406 with 16 home runs and 69 RBI. The hypothetical Marte/Winker duo is more productive in all facets. This is, of course, assuming they replicate their 2024 numbers. It’s an improvement over Martinez for sure. Marte and Winker already nearly match his home run and RBI total in fewer chances while dominating him in all slash line categories. The added benefit of being able to play defense helps, too.

It was around this time last year when the Mets were trying to convince us their DH plan was Mark Vientos, DJ Stewart, and some Marte added in for good measure. The threesome was never utilized in a regular rotation with Vientos going to the minors and taking the third base job when he returned. We shouldn’t commit ourselves to a DH platoon of Marte and Winker.

On paper, it looks better than what we got from Martinez last year. Those missing at-bats overtake him and the rest of the DH cast from last year. Martinez had a .728 OPS as a DH last year with the entire team combining for a slightly better one at .731. It was tied for 14th in MLB which puts them right about average. Utilizing Marte and Winker in a preferred matchup should, hopefully, improve this.

An exact platoon with these two won't happen. Winker could play some first base. Marte is a candidate for some innings in left field if needed. There will be times when they're both in the lineup together. Never forget, Winker's famous helmet slam in Milwaukee came on a Marte hit.