Inside The Mets

Mets veteran returns to outfield for first time in spring training

Starling Marte is playing his first game in the outfield today, giving the New York Mets more defensive options amidst lingering injuries.

Lindsay Crosby

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (6) walks back to the dugout after striking out during the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Park
New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (6) walks back to the dugout after striking out during the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Park / Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
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Veteran New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte is set to play in the outfield for the first time in Grapefruit League action on Friday.

Amidst injuries to the Mets outfield corps, Marte's return to defensive duties provides additional flexibility and coverage for the roster in the regular season. Brandon Nimmo, the team's regular starting left fielder, finally returned to outfield duties just earlier this week after dealing with both lingering effects of last season's plantar fasciitis and knee soreness that came up early in spring training.

While the 36-year-old Marte will not be expected to man an outfield position every day, returning to outfield duties allows the veteran to both give days off to other members of the roster and stay fresh in case injuries require him to play on a more frequent basis.

There is also an additional aspect of Marte playing in the field that can help the Mets in 2025 - preserving his offensive production.

Marte's first game action in his career at designated hitter came last season, and it did not go well. He hit just .207 with a .689 OPS when serving as the designated hitter, a far cry below his .275 average and .720 OPS when playing right field.

But with the addition of right fielder Juan Soto on MLB's largest-ever free agent contract, Marte's role is expected to be a platoon at DH with 2024 trade deadline acquisition Jesse Winker. Marte, who hit .310 against lefties last season, outperformed Winker by 74 points against southpaws and should receive most, if not all, of those at-bats in 2025.

Read More: Mets veteran sends clear message about reduced role

Marte also provides a baserunning dimension that could be lacking on the current roster. Among returning Mets, he finished second in stolen bases last year with 16, behind only Francisco Lindor's 29. Given the loss of double-digit base stealer Harrison Bader (17 steals) to free agency, Marte's wheels will be valuable.

But Marte and Lindor will not need to do it alone. The team did retain fellow outfielder Tyrone Taylor, who stole 11 bags last year, and brought in centerfielder Jose Siri from the Tampa Bay Rays, who sports 99th percentile speed of 29.9 feet per second and stole 14 bases in 21 tries for Tampa Bay last year.

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Lindsay Crosby
LINDSAY CROSBY

Lindsay is a contributor for Mets On SI. He is an IBWAA award-winning baseball writer and podcaster living in the Southeast, covering Auburn University baseball since 2021 and the Atlanta Braves since 2022. He can most commonly be found in a baseball press box and you can follow him on Twitter/X at @CrosbyBaseball."

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