PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Shortly after signing Juan Soto to a 15-year contract to play right field, Mets officials told Starling Marte that they would attempt to trade him.
“They spoke to me before the signing, and then after the signing, they reiterated that they would try to move me,” Marte, 36, said Sunday through an interpreter. “They were very clear, very honest with me up front. They obviously want the best for this team, but also the best for my future. They were really helpful, and they were really transparent about the situation.”
Marte, the incumbent right fielder, has had an uneven tenure since inking his own four-year deal before the 2022 campaign, offering glimpses of his prime abilities but averaging just 99 games per season. He hasn’t played a full healthy season since 2015.
Ultimately, the Mets found no takers on the trade market. And while it’s possible they could still deal Marte this spring, president of baseball operations David Stearns said last week that he “would anticipate, by and large,” not making any major changes to the roster before Opening Day.
The upshot is that Marte -- a two-time All-Star -- will need to adjust to life as a part-time player.
“Whenever you’re with a team for the amount of time that I’ve been with a team, you get comfortable,” Marte said. “You don’t want to get traded, because you create relationships with the players, with the staff, with everybody around here. But at the same time, any baseball player would love to play every single day, because that’s how a player gets his reps.
“If they wanted to trade me, they would have traded me. Obviously, I’m here for a reason. If they wanted to trade me, they would have gotten rid of me a long time ago.
“In the meantime, I’m here. I’m going to continue to work as hard as I possibly can. I’m going to go out there and compete. I’m going to try to give the young guys good advice. I’m going to try to be a positive impact in this clubhouse in whatever way.”
Mostly, Marte will serve as the right-handed half of a DH platoon with Jesse Winker. When the Mets face a left-handed pitcher, Marte will play. If Soto takes a game or two at DH, Marte will step into right field. Otherwise, he’ll spend the bulk of his time on the bench.
It’s a clear change for a veteran accustomed to being in the lineup every day. For that reason, manager Carlos Mendoza sat Marte down as soon as he arrived in camp to explain the situation and take Marte’s temperature. He came away pleased with the veteran’s willingness to adapt.
“It was a very honest conversation, and he took it really well,” Mendoza said. “He’s at the point in his career that he wants to win, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help us win baseball games. Whether that’s coming off the bench, whether it’s as a DH, it’s a different role. But he wants to be here, and we want him here, obviously. And he’s going to help us.”
Though Marte volunteered to take reps at his old position of center field, a move there seems unlikely given the presence of two plus defenders in Tyrone Taylor and Jose Siri. Moreover, regular rest could prove beneficial for Marte, who played through knee pain last October and has struggled through quadriceps, groin, finger, neck and headache issues since coming to the Mets.
Yet even last year, in a down year, Marte produced an .844 OPS against left-handed pitchers.
“Winning teams have players in those roles that are elite players,” Mendoza said. “That’s the case here. He’s willing to do it. We need him. And I’m excited about it.”
Senior Reporter Anthony DiComo has covered the Mets for MLB.com since 2007.
