Former Phillies player can help the NY Mets replace Starling Marte

As teams search for ways to improve, certain needs tend to resurface, and for the New York Mets, one of them is replacing a presence that once steadied their outfield and extended their lineup. Starling Marte fits that mold, the kind of role player who made the lineup feel more complete even on quiet days. Filling that space becomes less about finding a star and more about identifying someone who can recreate the rhythm he brought.

That is when attention drifts toward names that rarely dominate rumor mills but always seem to elevate a roster in subtle, meaningful ways. One of those names, surprisingly enough, comes from a past stop in Philadelphia. He will not be asked to transform the lineup. He will not be asked to carry it. What he can do is slide into the kind of role that keeps the Marte influence alive on the field.

The Mets might find exactly what they need in Austin Hays and his proven skill set.

Austin Hays fits this conversation because his value comes wrapped in a price tag that makes complete sense for a role player. A market value around $5M per year gives the Mets a chance to add a younger, more targeted version of what Marte once offered without needing to reshape the payroll. It’s sensible spending with upside, the kind of move competitive teams make when they’re focused on winning games instead of chasing splashy headlines.

The production is real. Hays has spent the last two seasons turning left-handed pitching into his personal highlight reel. In 2024, with the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies, he carved up southpaws for .354/ .404/ .537 with a 164 OPS+. In 2025 with the Reds, he followed it by hitting .319/ .400/ .549 with a 168 OPS+ in the exact role the Mets would be asking him to play.

There is more to him than one split. At 30 years old, Hays offers the kind of well-rounded profile that made Marte valuable during his tenure with the Mets. He posted three straight seasons of 50+ extra base hits with the Orioles from 2021 through 2023, a reminder that his bat carries real impact when given the right matchups. Add in a .308 average with runners in scoring position in 2025, and you start to see why he checks so many boxes for a team that spent long stretches searching for timely hits.

Marte’s résumé speaks for itself, but even productive veterans eventually yield space to younger players who bring similar skill sets with fresher legs. Hays won’t be asked to carry a lineup or reshape a season. What he can do is deliver the steady, situational value that helps the Mets replace what Marte once brought on the field while giving the roster a more sustainable look moving forward.