2 NY Mets free agents the team has already replaced, 1 more they should

Jesse Winker can be replaced with more than Juan Soto

Jesse Winker hasn’t been officially replaced on the Mets roster, but there probably isn’t going to be as much of a need to add him. The trouble with Winker is he isn’t an exceptionally good defensive player. If Starling Marte is still with the team, as we can assume he will be, it doesn’t make nearly as much sense to have Winker back in the fold.

Winker was needed by the Mets at the trade deadline because of Marte’s injury. The team certainly could use a left-handed hitting outfielder of some kind. Juan Soto filling this need above and beyond what Winker could offer even in his best season would supplant how far the Mets’ need to go to fill out the roster with a part-time lefty swinger.

Players such as Joc Pederson, Max Kepler, Anthony Santander, and even Michael Conforto are Winker alternatives with their strengths and weaknesses. All hit from the left side, Santander being a switch hitter. Winker hasn’t completely fallen out of the plans for next year, but one would have to think his -11 Outs Above Average (only 6 players had a worse total here last year) might disqualify him. Winker, to his credit, probably earned himself more than the shared responsibilities he’d have as a member of the Mets in 2025.