Inside The Mets

Mets veteran sends clear message about reduced role

New York Mets veteran Starling Marte got honest about starting the season in a lesser role than in the past.

Grant Young

Mar 14, 2025; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; 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. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Mar 14, 2025; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; 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. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images / Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
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While the New York Mets signing superstar slugger Juan Soto this offseason was obviously a franchise-altering move, it doesn't necessarily mean more opportunities for everybody on New York's roster.

Despite being injured for much of the season, 36-year-old Starling Marte was the Mets' starting right fielder in 2024 whenever he was healthy. Marte signed a lucrative four-year, $78 million contract with the Mets back in 2021. After a solid 2022 season, he has spent much of the past two seasons injured.

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And now with Soto (who is a right fielder) signed along with the Mets acquiring Jose Siri and re-signing Jesse Winker, Marte appears to be the odd-man out in New York's outfield; or at least will assume more of a platoon role.

While Marte is aware of his diminished role compared to years past, a comment he made to NJ Advance Media's Manny Gómez as part of a March 14 article conveys that he isn't lamenting it.

“In this role, I get to help my teammates,” Marte is quoted saying in translated Spanish. “I get to be one more person who can watch and evaluate players on the field, and see how I can help them. And then, when I get the chance to play, I’m ready for that too.”

We already know that Marte has tried to help teammate Brandon Nimmo, as Nimmo alluded to Marte having conversations with him about his own lingering knee injury on March 14.

There's no question that Marte is still an extremely talented hitter who could be a massive asset for the Mets in 2025. But he'll need to remain on the field and produce in this reduced role before he gets more of an opportunity.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers the New York Mets and Women’s Basketball for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco, where he also played Division 1 baseball for five years. He believes Mark Teixeira should have been a first ballot MLB Hall of Fame inductee.

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