As the New York Mets battle for a wild-card spot in the last two months of the season, the team is looking to get one of its key players back. Right fielder Starling Marte has been out of the lineup since late June after aggravating a knee injury he’d been playing through. With Marte out, the team has been playing Tyrone Taylor, DJ Stewart, and the newly acquired Jesse Winker in right field to make up for Marte’s absence. Now, Marte is on the mend and could be closer to returning as the Mets announced he will begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday.
Mets Outfielder To Begin Rehab Assignment
Starling Marte will begin a rehab assignment with Low-A St. Lucie tomorrow, Carlos Mendoza said. He’ll be the DH.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) August 6, 2024
Marte’s 2024
Before Marte’s injury, he was having a nice bounce back year, most especially at the plate. Through 66 games, Marte had slashed .278/.328/.416 with 68 hits, 7 home runs, 30 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. He had an OPS of .745 and an OPS+ of 114. From Opening Day to late June, Marte had been the most consistent hitter in the Mets lineup. However, while his offense was productive, his defense was his weakness. According to FanGraphs, Marte’s UZR was -6.8, and a UZR/150 at -17.8. His Statcast outs above average (OAA) for the season is -9.
What A Returning Marte Brings To The Mets
It’s clear Marte’s value, at 35-year-old, is his offense, and the Mets could use him in the lineup. New York has sputtered offensively over the last couple of weeks and has especially struggled with RISP. However, his defense will leave much to be desired. Taylor and Winker are better defensively than Marte right now. However, Marte brings a good bat and is a threat to steal bases. Plus, he brings versatility to New York’s lineup. The Mets can put him at the top of the lineup or in the middle of the order.
Main Photo Credits: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
