Power ranking the Mets 2021-22 big offseason acquistions

3. Mets free agent signing Starling Marte

The lengthiest contract the Mets handed out this past winter was a four-year contract to Starling Marte, and Marte has shown early on that he can still be a dynamic playmaker as anybody at 33 years old. Marte is batting .262 with three home runs and 20 runs batted in.

He is legging out infield hits by hustling, using his dynamic speed and heart to win games for the Mets. Remember, this was a guy that led the major leagues with 47 stolen bases last year, so he has a lot left in the tank and it is part of the residue of a culture of mental grit and toughness that Showalter is instilling in the clubhouse.

Also, how about the infield hit he beat out to jump start the miracle comeback in Philadelphia. Down by six runs with last licks, he treated that like it was a tie game, and the comeback would not have been possible without the little things.

Speaking of speed, the Mets have not had an everyday player that is a dangerous threat on the basepaths like Marte since Jose Reyes donned the orange and blue (during his first go-around with the team from 2003 to 2011). Marte’s ability to get on base makes life more challenging for opposing pitchers knowing how fast he his.

Has he been a bit reckless on the basepaths? Yes (He's been caught stealing a major league high 4 times).  But does it take away anything from opposing coaches game planning around his speed? No, and Mets fans should be giddy about that.

He’s also been clutch at the plate, as his 20 RBI’s are good for sixth in the National League when play began on Friday. He has been in the middle of some of the big moments for this team this season, from legging out a go-ahead infield hit in extra innings in Arizona to smacking the go-ahead double in the Mets’ historic comeback in Philadelphia.