The Mets are reportedly bringing back one of their free agent bats back for 2025, in OF/DH Jesse Winker. Reports indicate the Mets will sign Winker to a one-year deal, months after the 31-year-old clicked with the team during the MLB Postseason. And, the signing of Winker could a harbinger of things to come for another free agent.
A Look at Winker
The past three seasons have been up-and-down for Jesse Winker, a 2021 NL All-Star who had a career season that year with the Reds. Winker hit .305/.394/.556 (.950 OPS) with 24 home runs, looking like the premium player some thought he could become when he was picked in the first round back in 2012.
Winker was traded after the 2021-22 lockout to the Mariners, a team on the rise. However, that’s where things began to fall apart. The outfielder hit .219/.344/.344 (.688 OPS) but was hurt, as Winker needed multiple operations (disc replacement in back, meniscus in knee) after the 2022 season.
Seattle, though, opted against a second year with Winker. Instead, he was traded to the Brewers for Kolten Wong as Seattle needed a second baseman.
Much like in 2022, injuries were the story for Winker. The veteran outfielder struggled with back spasms and a cervical strain, only playing 61 games.
The Nationals signed him to a Minor League deal last winter and benefitted greatly from it. Winker hit .257/.374/.419 (.793 OPS), with 11 home runs and 14 stolen bases. He was able to hit for power not seen in years and move around well enough to play the field and steal.
The Mets acquired him in July, an interesting twist for Winker, a player who often loved to tease the fans in Queens. Winker posted a sub.-700 OPS in the regular season. However, in the playoffs, Winker hit .318 with a home run and three extra-base hits.
Winker, from an analytics point of view, is a very intriguing hitter. No, the 31-year-old didn’t replicate his other-wordly 2021 campaign, where he rated above-average in virtually every metric. However, Winker is among the best in terms of working counts and walks.
Last season, his 12.4% BB% was four points above the league average.
Winker didn’t showcase plus bat speed last season. However, he’s got a short stroke (7.3”, roughly league average), stays back on offspeed and breaking balls thanks to a grest eye, and doesn’t get pull-happy. He’ll go inside-out and keep the bat in the zone long, keeping the whiff numbers down. In 2024, his 19.6% Whiff% was above the league average.
Defensively, Winker has long been a below-average defender in the corners. Yes, Winker has a good arm; it ranked in the 65th percentile per Statcast, in terms of arm strength. However, the 31-year-old has below-average foot speed, leading to poor range. Just last season, Winker had a cumulative Outs Above Average of -11.
Per reports, the Mets are bringing Jesse Winker on a one-year deal, worth $7.5MM guaranteed. Winker could also reportedly receive $1.5MM in incentives.
Analysis
The Winter re-signing could be a sign of things to come for both the Mets and Pete Alonso.
Per a report from SNY, the Mets are expecting Alonso to sign somewhere else, in an offseason that’s seen a stare-off between the two sides. Rather, the Mets are looking to invest in multiple players for their 2025 roster — and possibly beyond. Earlier on January 16, it was reported the Mets and Blue Jays were involved in talks with the slugger.
Whatever happens with Alonso, the add of Winker does give the Mets back a bat who got back on track after injury-riddled problems in 2022 and 2023. Winker gets on base, has pop, and can slot in as a corner outfield/DH.
However, with the newly-acquired OF Jose Siri, and Tyrone Taylor on the roster, alongside Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte, and Juan Soto, the Mets can get creative with a platoon situation. The Mets can slot Winker in against righties, with Taylor and Siri slotting in the outfield and/or DH against lefties.
However, if the Mets don’t bring Alonso back, New York (NL) still would have a hole at first base. Winker could be an option to fill that hole, at least partially. The 31-year-old never played a MLB game at first base. However, he does have 13 Minor League games of experience at first, all of which came on a rehab assignment in 2023.