3 red hot Mets players transforming this club into trade deadline buyers

The Mets are the only thing hotter than the weather right now.

May 30, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (28) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
May 30, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (28) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
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Pendulums swing both ways. So does the way we feel about the 2024 New York Mets. A lousy start, a strong stretch after, followed by a defeated feeling for several weeks, and we’re back to feeling a lot better about where they measure up. Thanks to a pedestrian National League with what looks to be clustered in the middle with mediocrity, the Mets have avoided the 10-count.

How has this once declared dead team risen back? We can credit three red hot players whose June numbers have the Mets looking more like trade deadline buyers than sellers.

1) J.D. Martinez

You can’t talk Mets success without mentioning J.D. Martinez. Absolutely the key difference for this team in comparison to other recent bleak years, the team’s DH is the reason for this week’s heat wave. It began before his walk-off home run versus the Miami Marlins and continued through the weekend versus the San Diego Padres when he was the daddy of MLB’s daddies.

This month, Martinez is batting .315/.422/.593 with 3 home runs and 13 RBI. He has been absolutely clutch for the ball club. Twice during their ongoing winning streak he has won them games.

It’s hard to believe the Mets were any good this year without Martinez. Because of his late spring signing, Martinez opted to gear up in the minor leagues for a couple of weeks rather than toss himself straight into the pit of wolves. Upon his return, the Mets lineup deepened, but a few of his teammates were slumping.

One could make the case that Martinez's presence in the locker room is equally as valuable as his bat on the field. Say what you will about the leadership qualities of some of the longer tenured players. Optimistically positive at times, the messaging from Martinez at the team meeting in late May might’ve been what they really needed to hear.

Give the one guy with a World Series ring on this roster the benefit of the doubt.

2) Starling Marte

As frustrating as he is as a right fielder, it cannot be denied how awesome Starling Marte has been as the team’s regular number five hitter. The Mets have tried him out in a couple of different spots this season. Whether batting second, fifth, or somewhere else, there has always been a fear of Marte aging himself out as a productive member of the Mets.

We saw this up close how poorly he played in 2023 whilst battling through injuries. Seemingly healthy this year, the key might be to give him some regular rest. Luckily, DJ Stewart has played well in doses and has made some exceptional plays in right field as a replacement. Tyrone Taylor ain’t so bad either.

While Stewart and Taylor have had their cooling off periods, Marte has proven himself worthy of a spot in the starting lineup. June has been kind to him. The .344/.417/.531 slash line this month is insanely impressive. Although he does still require a little more rest than some others, it has proven to keep him at his best.

Other than his defense, everything seems to be going well for Marte on the field this year. He has stolen another 3 bases this month which is tied for the team lead. He has 12 on the season and has yet to get caught.

3) Francisco Lindor

Brandon Nimmo has the better batting average this month, however, it’s Francisco Lindor who has been the more impactful player and for longer. Only recently has Nimmo resurfaced as the important cog in the Mets’ master plan. Lindor, on the other hand, has been one of MLB’s best hitters for several weeks. Ignore the batting average. It’s never going to satisfy you.

A .296/.381/.556 slash line this month with 3 home runs and a team-leading 13 runs scored fits well for Lindor in the leadoff spot. The RBI totals are down but that’s to be expected when you’re hitting first.

Maybe overlooked by some, Lindor has incredibly cut down on strikeouts. With just 6 of them versus 6 walks in June, he is constantly putting the ball in play. He has pulled his season numbers from the lowest depths. He was still hitting below .200 as recently as May 21. Now at .242, it’s a testament to how much better he has gotten.

A 4 for 4 night in the massacre against the Texas Rangers on Monday kept things rolling for the star shortstop. The Mets are now only one game out of a Wild Card spot. Lindor is a big reason why.

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