NEW YORK — Jesse Winker as soon as stated that he “loves” Mets followers. He’ll now have an opportunity to construct an enduring relationship with them.
The Mets agreed to phrases late Saturday on a commerce to amass Winker from the Nationals, a supply confirmed, giving the Mets a much-needed left-handed outfielder to enhance their present combine. With Starling Marte persevering with to nurse a bone bruise in his proper knee, Winker can maintain down a nook spot within the brief time period and maybe share time with Marte in September and past.
The Mets haven’t confirmed the deal as a result of it’s pending medical evaluation. It’s additionally not clear what the staff is sending to Washington in trade. Winker, who signed a $2 million contract with the Nationals final offseason, is a pure rental who will probably be a free agent in November.
The 30-year-old Winker is within the midst of a bounce-back season following a pair of injury-laden down years, with a .253/.372/.417 slash line and 11 dwelling runs over 100 video games. He has performed principally in left area for the Nationals however has loads of expertise in proper. That may turn out to be useful along with his new staff, as Brandon Nimmo is entrenched because the Mets’ on a regular basis starter in left.
In New York, Winker is best-known for a sequence of interactions over the previous 5 years that turned him right into a Citi Subject heel. In 2019 with the Reds, Winker waved to followers on the ballpark after a number of key performs, together with a go-ahead dwelling run and a sliding, game-ending catch. Three years later with the Mariners, Winker hit a game-tying, three run homer and once more waved to the gang as he crossed dwelling plate. A Buffalo, N.Y. native, Winker has had a number of different playful interactions at Citi through the years, as soon as buying and selling a baseball with a fan in trade for a hand-written signal.
“I’m going to be trustworthy with you, I really like them,” Winker stated in 2022. “They’re a tremendous group of individuals. They’re very captivated with their staff and their metropolis. And from a man who, born in upstate New York, is an enormous fan of that soccer staff up there [the Bills], I can perceive the eagerness and I respect it. This factor we’ve received occurring is particular.”
Now, Winker and Mets followers are on the identical facet.
An eight-year veteran, Winker was an All-Star in 2021, hitting 24 homers with a .949 OPS in 110 video games for the Reds. Though he has by no means reached these heights earlier than or since, Winker is within the midst of his greatest season since then. Key to Winker’s sport is his plate self-discipline; he ranks within the 97th percentile in MLB in each chase fee and stroll fee.
Basically, Winker is an improve over DJ Stewart, who had been the Mets’ high left-handed bench bat and an rare starter in proper area. The Mets had reportedly checked in on Michael Conforto for that gig, however Winker has constructed a stronger season than Conforto in most each regard. With Marte sidelined, the Mets have been utilizing a mixture of Stewart, Jeff McNeil and Tyrone Taylor in proper. Winker presents extra of an on a regular basis answer.
The Mets have now made three additions main as much as the Commerce Deadline in Winker, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek. The latter two pitchers crammed an apparent bullpen want, whereas Winker can assist shore up the bench. What stays to be seen is that if the Mets will handle their rotation, which not too long ago misplaced to key members in Christian Scott and Kodai Senga. The staff introduced Saturday that Senga is prone to miss the remainder of the common season recovering from a left calf pressure.
