Mets rumors: Trade for Jesse Winker boosts the roster but raises some questions

New York Mets rumors have been hard to find as David Stearns has done a good job of keeping things all buttoned up. Speculation over the last few weeks has been the growing need for an outfielder. Specifically, the team has been in the market for a left-handed hitting one. They’ve reportedly found the answer as the team is working to finalize a deal with the Washington Nationals for Jesse Winker. Because of the nearly midnight timestamp of Jeff Passan’s report, it might take until early on Sunday to find out what the Mets gave up.

Winker, barring an unknown arm growing out of his back, is headed to the Mets regardless. He brings with him some rather even splits this season. The lefty swinger has slashed .266/.390/.450 in 279 plate appearances against righties. Against lefties, he has held it together at .233/.330/.337. This is better than teammates Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor against southpaws.

Winker will be the replacement for DJ Stewart on the roster, but maybe first the team could decide to DFA Ben Gamel. Stewart has minor league options while Gamel does not. The latest on Starling Marte will probably determine who gets to stay and who doesn’t. The deal, while welcomed by Mets fans, does raise some questions.

Exactly how will the Mets use Jesse Winker?

Winker has spent most of his career in left field and as Passan noted, has been excellent out there defensively this season. The Mets needed a right fielder. So why him? Their creativity is limited with J.D. Martinez locked in as the club’s DH. Winker hasn’t started a game in right field since 2021. What’s the plan? Is Brandon Nimmo going to get those starts while Marte is out?

Does this mean less Jose Iglesias?

The Mets have a good thing going with Jose Iglesias hitting so well and the arrival of the happy version of Jeff McNeil. Iglesias plays second base as often as possible with McNeil out in right field. A slight chill has come over Iglesias’ bat with only 2 hits in 14 at-bats this week against the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves. Small sample size, yes. Still holding a batting average above .300 against righties with all 3 of his home runs against them too, we probably will see less of Iglesias. We need him to still rake before the re-release of OMG.

Coming off of a horrific year with the Milwaukee Brewers and an almost as bad one in 2022 with the Seattle Mariners, Winker is the level of player the Mets needed. He can play every day but doesn’t need to. Bigger than the failed 2022 trade for Tyler Naquin, let’s aggressively hit the refresh to see the return and grade this tomorrow.