NY Mets free agent reunion with Jesse Winker isn’t free of major red flags

Getting the band back together was partly the mission behind David Stearns’ offseason plan. Multiple New York Mets free agents were brought back for another run at a pennant. Why change the personnel when things worked so well before?

Of course, not every reunion turns out as planned. Mets history has plenty of failed attempts to recapture magic from the past, even if the wizardry took place just one season prior.

Among the free agent reunions the Mets made this offseason, one that was mostly celebrated isn’t without its major red flags. Jesse Winker is back on a one-year deal worth $8 million. As valuable as he can be as a part-time DH and occasional corner outfielder, it’s hard to ignore how bad he was in September last season and how outside of last year just how poorly he hit.

There are major red flags the Mets can’t ignore with Jesse Winker

Two toasted slices of artisan bread with cheese, garlic, and bacon baked into it surrounded Winker’s tenure with the Mets in 2024. He was a dynamic addition to the roster. Absent Starling Marte, he immediately had an impact and spent most of August pulverizing baseballs. He hit .343/.357/.508 for the Mets in the debut month, showing an ultra-aggressive approach at the plate much different than how he was with the Washington Nationals prior. Drawing just 2 walks but clobbering a pair of home runs and driving in 9 in 70 plate appearances, it looked like the Mets chose wisely.

Then came the meat in the middle. It was rich with the scent of last week’s garbage with a taste to match. Winker was one of several Mets hitters who barely did a thing in September. A grand slam accounted for his lone extra-base hit and all 4 of his runs batted in. He batted .071/.250/.143 in the final month when the team really needed more. J.D. Martinez fell into a vortex of not producing. So did Winker.

The other slice of bread in the postseason helped change the narrative. It’s almost forgotten how well he hit in the NLCS because of his helmet smash after scoring a run in the NLWC round and home run in the NLDS. Winker slashed .385/.579/.538 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, walking 5 times versus 3 strikeouts.

So which Winker shows up? Do we get a carb sandwich in 2025 where he’s the August and October version or something closer to September?