DALLAS — In the event you have been hoping to listen to how Carlos Mendoza and David Stearns felt about Juan Soto lower than 24 hours after the 2 events agreed to the biggest contract in skilled sports activities historical past, you’ll have to attend just a little longer for perception.
As you would possibly keep in mind, Correa’s contract with the San Francisco Giants fell aside due to a bodily, and the Mets noticed the identical factor the Giants did and a standoff ensued. Speaking a couple of contract or a participant on document earlier than it turns into official might open the door to renegotiations and negatively have an effect on the result ultimately.
So Stearns and Mendoza stayed mum on their new proper fielder, with Stearns shutting down any line of questioning and Mendoza humorously attempting to speak round him.
What did Stearns do Sunday?
“I flew here.”
Hypothetically, if the Mets have been to accumulate one other proper fielder, what wouldn’t it imply for Starling Marte?
“I think if we were to acquire a right fielder, we’ll talk about that when we acquire a right fielder,” Stearns mentioned.
Mendoza was just a little extra candid about Marte, the veteran proper fielder who has yet another yr left on his four-year contract.
“He’s a big part of this team, especially when he’s healthy,” Mendoza mentioned. “We saw it in the playoffs, even though he wasn’t 100 percent, this is a dynamic player. He can impact the game in a lot of different ways. He runs the bases, he’s going to give you quality at bat, he puts the ball in play, he’s got the ability to go the other way, he hits it out of the ballpark, he’s got a cannon. His defense got better throughout the year…
“So again, he is a big part of this team.”
Studying between the traces, it sounds just like the Mets wish to hold Marte and use him at DH. With out J.D. Martinez and Jesse Winker, the Mets are in want of a DH platoon. Marte can spell Soto within the outfield when wanted and be used late in video games as a defensive substitute. Whereas the 36-year-old Marte has been vocal about his desire to play day by day within the outfield, he appears to know these days could be coming to an finish. He posted a photograph of Soto on his Instagram story Monday with the caption, “Welcome to our family.”
A defensive cut up won’t be the worst concept. Soto isn’t an amazing defender and the Mets needed to handle Marte’s workload after he returned from a knee harm final season. In 2023, he missed a lot of the season with a groin harm. Marte continues to work on his knee this winter.
“I spoke with him about a week ago, so he’s in a good place,” Mendoza mentioned.
The Mets are tentatively planning to introduce Soto at Citi Area later within the week after the 26-year-old passes his bodily.
NOTES
Ronny Mauricio not too long ago began baseball actions, however the Mets aren’t about to pencil the infielder in for a spring coaching place battle simply but. After two knee surgical procedures and a yr away from aggressive baseball, they’d prefer to work him in slowly and see how he strikes earlier than making any choices.
Proper-hander Paul Blackburn is on observe to be prepared for spring coaching and Opening Day after present process a process to repair a spinal fluid leak in his again.
