2) Jesse Winker
Jesse Winker was even less popular than Martinez over the winter. Settling on a deal worth less than $1 million to play for the Washington Nationals, he came to the Mets at the trade deadline in exchange for pitching prospect Tyler Stuart. At the time, the Mets needed outfield help of any kind. Starling Marte was hurt and the team felt it could use a left-handed bat with the way DJ Stewart wasn’t hitting.
Winker gave the Mets some incredible energy. Big hits in August had many thinking he’d be a candidate to come back the following year. A September only masked by how bad Martinez has done should have the Mets staying away from any sort of reunion.
This month, Winker crashed. The delectable .343/.357/.508 he hit in August is a nine-course meal complete with a dessert buffet. September has been a bitter piece of moldy bread at .071/.250/.143. His grand slam accounts for all 4 of the runs he has batted in this month.
Instead of being the solution for Martinez’s struggles, Winker pairs right up next to him as yet another weakness on the roster. He won’t be as popular in free agency as he would’ve been if the season ended a month ago.