A Mets player the team needs to trade more urgently than Jeff McNeil

A relatively tame first offseason by David Stearns last winter worked out well. This year, the circumstances have changed drastically for the New York Mets. The free agent class is much larger in terms of talent and ability. Several key prospects are on the verge of making it to the majors while some who don’t look quite ready will need to be protected on the 40-man roster to avoid becoming available in December’s Rule 5 Draft.

Often brought up in trade discussion, mostly amongst fans, is the name Jeff McNeil. Two straight down years with last year being even worse, dealing him away creates an opportunity to allow some of the younger players to take over. 

It’s not McNeil the Mets should be as quick to deal away. His defensive versatility itself makes him valuable as a backup corner outfielder. The same versatility isn’t true for his teammate, Starling Marte. An increasingly bad defensive player, the best place for him is to be more of a DH. He isn’t a good enough hitter for that role. And by keeping him, the Mets are blocking themselves from other opportunities in a free agent class featuring several right field upgrades and players who can mash at the plate.

If the Mets are looking to dump any player this offseason, Starling Marte is the one to do it with

The fourth and final year of Marte’s contract was accepted long ago as a declining one. When the Mets signed him prior to 2022 for four years, we were hoping to get at least two very good seasons and maybe even some time patrolling center field. Only 13 total innings as a center fielder with a single start at the position coming in 2024, it’s unbelievable there was ever a thought he could take the position away from Brandon Nimmo. Heading into 2025, neither of them are quite up to snuff to play the position.

Marte’s arm remains strong. He led the league with 6 assists as a right fielder in 2024 despite playing in only half of the team’s games. By most other measures, he was down. His range isn’t what it had been in the past. He misread his share of balls and just doesn’t have the immediate speed to get to them on time. His -8 Outs Above Average rated among the worst in baseball at any position with the weakness spread pretty evenly in all directions.

Bad defense is livable if a player hits. Marte was mediocre for the second straight year. Slashing .269/.327/.388 and with a decrease in stolen bases and attempts, he looked every bit broken down. A strong showing in the NLCS helped uplift his place in the minds of Mets fans. Four doubles against the Los Angeles Dodgers only slightly brushed away the thought that he is now completely void of power. His last home run was on June 12 when Grimace threw out the first pitch. In the second half of the season, after returning from the IL, Marte had only 5 extra-base hits. A pair of doubles in August and another in September plus a triple accounted for them.

A poor defender who hits singles making over $20 million is not a recipe at DH for a winning ball club. Strangely, his 30.9% line drive percentage was the best of his career and yet it didn’t result in anything more than a couple more hard singles landing in front of outfielders. A lessoned role is inevitable for Marte if the team fails to move him. It’s unfortunate his roster presence could eat up valuable time and space. A true DH or right fielder would look much better than a guy who right now performs like neither.