The 2024 Major League Baseball trade deadline proved to be fruitful for the New York Mets.
Though the Mets didn’t wind up acquiring any 2024 All-Stars, one rental piece that they brought in played a solid role as an extra left-handed bat.
Jesse Winker put up just a .683 OPS with the Mets in the regular season, but an 1.186 OPS in 10 playoff games. He also brought moxie to the New York lineup, playing with an edge and occasionally riling up the opposition.
Now that the Mets have Juan Soto, however, it’s hard to imagine them having much room for Winker in their 2025 lineup. His time in Queens might be fondly remembered, but where will he head next?
On Monday, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report predicted that Winker would sign with the Toronto Blue Jays, as part of an offensive overhaul that also includes former Baltimore Orioles star Anthony Santander.
“The Blue Jays have long been in search of some left-handed pop to add balance to their lineup, and both Anthony Santander and Jesse Winker fit the mold, though they also represent bat-first options and one of them would have to man left field,” Reuter wrote.
Winker is projected for a one-year, $2.4 million contract by Spotrac, which seems like fair value given his up-and-down production over the last three seasons. At that price tag, it’s nt out of the question that the Mets might still try to retain him as a bench bat.
Ultimately, a team like Toronto offering a crack at a starting job might be the difference-maker in Winker considering his return to Queens.
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