5 Mets players who've butchered our trust in them

5) NY Mets outfielder Starling Marte tore up the good faith we had in him

It’s really the injuries that hurt how we feel about Starling Marte most. They cut him down at the end of the 2022 run. Offseason surgery and some lingering injuries early on this year surely contributed to what will go down as one of the more disappointing efforts.

Marte never seemed as locked in this year. Physical limitations? A toxic locker room? It’s all speculative as to why he wasn’t as sharp in the field or at the plate. Mostly, Marte’s lackluster performance can be attributed to an aging player beginning to break down further.

On the plus side, Marte can still steal bases. He surpassed last year’s total thanks in large part to MLB rule changes. But still, swiping over 20 bags isn’t easy in any circumstance. Marte’s bat has weakened. So has his glove. His legs are sharp.

Our expectations of what Marte can contribute moving forward have changed drastically. A well-rested offseason could help do the trick. Otherwise, reset those predictions for next year. He might be headed toward a ninth spot in the lineup.