NY Mets rumors: A free agent reunion only Juan Soto is asking for

One of the first New York Mets rumors to come out after the loss of Edwin Diaz involves the reunion with another free agent. It’s not Pete Alonso. It’s not Tyler Rogers. It’s not even giving Chris Bassitt a two-year deal to see what he can do as one of two additional starting pitchers added to the roster.

No, this one goes against what the Mets have preached. According to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Ragazoo, the Mets and Starling Marte might not have quit each other yet.

In a world of run prevention being a priority, why not re-sign a right-handed outfielder who could barely play the outfield last year after a terrible season in right field the season prior? Marte has lost speed, has little power, and would be a reunion no one other than his buddy Juan Soto is asking for.

Starling Marte was good in his role last year, but why go down that road again?

Marte overachieved last season in his limited DH role. Hitting .270/.335/.410 overall, he somehow managed to have better splits against right-handed pitchers. It made him more sustainable in the lineup as the regular DH.

Marte felt more like an inherited player David Stearns wouldn’t have wanted on the roster. There were rumors and speculation the Mets were trying to trade him last winter. To reunite with him wouldn’t be so sensible, even in a world where Mark Vientos isn’t a part of the team.

The idea of a part-time DH of any kind is..well…lame. We’ve seen the two most recent Mets regimes implement this. Last year’s plan was to have Marte and Jesse Winker share the duties. The year prior, J.D. Martinez was signed to take on the heavy load. Far more notorious was the year and a half Daniel Vogelbach spent with the Mets. Most vicious of all was the end of 2022 when he teamed up with Darin Ruf.

Call it “DH exhaustion” if you must. The idea of one single player at the DH spot is debatable because it never allows you to give half-days to other players. Only a small number of players are able to fulfill it in a satisfying manner. Two players, in this case what would be Marte and presumably a left-handed hitter, just doesn’t fit the narrative.

It’s a lousy pivot to, in less than 12 hours, go from searching to sign Kyle Schwarber to reuniting with Marte. No doubt a positive influence in the locker room, it’s a questionable on-field decision.