NEW YORK — Jesse Winker once said he “loved” Mets fans, and now he’ll have a chance to build a lasting relationship with them.
The Mets agreed to a trade to acquire Winker from the Nationals late Saturday, a source confirmed, giving the Mets a much-needed left-handed outfielder to complement their current lineup. With Starling Marte continuing to deal with a bone bruise in his right knee, Winker could potentially secure a corner spot in the short term and split time with Marte from September onward.
The Mets have not yet finalized the deal, pending a medical, and it is unclear what the team will send to Washington. Winker, who signed a $2 million contract with the Nationals last offseason, is a full rental who becomes a free agent in November.
Winker, 30, is in the midst of a rebound season after two injury-plagued years of poor performance, batting .253/.372/.417 with 11 homers in 100 games. While he has primarily played left field with the Nationals, he also has experience in right field, which could come in handy with his new team, as Brandon Nimmo has become established as the Mets’ left fielder.
In New York, Winker is best known for a series of interactions that have made him a villain at Citi Field over the past five years. While with the Reds in 2019, Winker waved to fans in the stadium after several key plays, including a game-winning home run and a sliding catch. Three years later, while with the Mariners, he hit a game-tying, three-run homer and again waved to the crowd as he reached home plate. The Buffalo, N.Y., native has had several other antics over the years with the City, including once trading baseballs with a fan for a handwritten autograph.
“Honestly, I love them,” Winker said in 2022. “They’re great guys. They’re so passionate about the team and the city. As someone who grew up in upstate New York and is a big fan of the football team there; [the Bills]”I understand and respect that passion. What we’re doing is something special.”
Now Winker and Mets fans are on the same side.
Winker, an eighth-year veteran, was an All-Star in 2021, appearing in 110 games with the Reds, hitting 24 home runs with a .949 OPS. Though he’s never reached those heights before or since, Winker is in the midst of his best season since. The key to Winker’s game has been discipline at the plate, ranking in the 97th percentile in MLB in both chase and walk rates.
Essentially, Winker is the Mets’ top left-handed bench hitter and a better option than DJ Stewart, who occasionally starts in right field. The Mets reportedly preferred Michael Conforto for the position, but Winker put together a stronger season in nearly every respect. With Marte out, the Mets have Stewart, Jeff McNeil and Tyrone Taylor in right field. Winker offers a more everyday solution.
The Mets added three players at the trade deadline: Winker, Phil Matton and Ryne Stanek. The latter two pitchers obviously fill in the relief void, while Winker can help bolster the reserves. It remains to be seen whether the Mets will bolster their starting rotation, which lost key members Christian Scott and Kodai Senga. The team announced Saturday that Senga will likely miss the remainder of the regular season as he recovers from a left calf injury.
