New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker (calf) was forced to exit early during Monday's spring training contest. The left-handed slugger was pulled out of the contest due to a minor calf issue. Mets' manager Carlos Mendoza said that Winker was removed for precautionary reasons. Fantasy managers should consider Winker as day-to-day. The expectation is that Winker will be fine in a few days and this shouldn't impact his status for Opening Day.
Starling Marte, Jesse Winker Set To Platoon At Designated Hitter
According to Jorge Castillo of ESPN, New York Mets outfielders Starling Marte and Jesse Winker are set to platoon at the designated hitter spot to open the season. Castillo noted that Marte could see occasional starts in right field. As a result, Marte will be on the short side of the platoon, given that he is the right-handed bat. Last season, the 36-year-old posted a .269/.327/.388 line with seven home runs and 16 stolen bases. However, when facing left-handed pitchers, Marte was quite effective as he posted a strong .310/.384/.460 line. Winker resigned with the Mets on a one-year contract earlier this offseason. Facing right-handers, Winker held a .258/.366/.422 slash line. As a result, both players will have limited values in fantasy, given that they will share playing time. However, both could be valuable in deeper NL-only formats, especially in daily lineup leagues.
According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker could see time at first base during the 2025 campaign. On a zoom conference, Winker expressed he is "capable" of playing first base when asked. He played first base during a rehab assignment in 2023 and even took ground balls at that position last season. While the Mets have remained in conversation with free agent Pete Alonso, several reports suggest that the Mets have begun to pivot to alternate options as he is unlikely to return to Queens. One of these alternatives was Winker, who the team signed to a one-year $7.5 million contract last week. Winker opened the 2024 campaign with the Nationals but was shipped to the Mets at the deadline. Across 145 contests, the 31-year-old posted a .253/.360/.405 line with 14 home runs and 14 stolen bases. Mark Vientos is another option to cover first base, which would open up the hot corner for Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuna, or Brett Baty.
Free-agent outfielder Jesse Winker re-signed with the New York Mets on Thursday on a one-year deal worth $7.5 million. With bonuses, Winker has a chance to make a maximum of $9 million. The 31-year-old veteran left-handed hitter began last season with the Washington Nationals and was acquired by the Mets at the trade deadline. He had a solid year overall, slashing a combined .253/.360/.405 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI, a career-high 14 stolen bases and 63 runs scored in 145 games played. He hit .243/.318/.365 with a .683 OPS, three long balls, 13 RBI and 12 runs scored in 44 regular-season games after joining the Mets. Winker was better in 10 playoff games, sporting a 1.168 OPS and a home run. Winker should see consistent at-bats against right-handers in the outfield and at DH, but he's only hit 20 homers once in eight big-league seasons and probably won't steal double-digit bases in 2025.
According to Andy Martino of SNY, free agent outfielder Jesse Winker has been linked to the Mets during free agency. Martino noted that a reunion is "very possible." The 31-year-old opened the season with the Washington Nationals but was shipped to Queens during the stretch run. Across 44 regular season games with the Mets, Winker held a .243/.318/.365 and hit five doubles and three home runs. Overall, Winker hit 23 doubles and 14 home runs across 145 games last season. During the postseason, he posted an impressive .318/.351/.636 line across ten games. He showed a strong eye at the plate with a 12.4% walk rate and 19.0% chase rate. Martino noted that Winker would be a target for the Mets if they were unable to bring back Pete Alonso. If he were to return to Queens, he would likely see time as a designated hitter and occasionally in the outfield.
New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker notched an RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth inning as part of a multi-hit effort in the Mets' 12-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. Winker's RBI triple extended the Mets' lead to 9-2 at the time and essentially helped bury the Dodgers' hopes of posting any sort of comeback. Winker improved his OPS to 1.203 in the postseason, the highest mark in the Mets' lineup. The lefty also recorded three runs on the night, scoring every time he was able to reach base. Winker has been a very under-the-radar player for the Mets this postseason and DFS players may want to look to add him in their lineups for a sneaky play. He'll look to continue his hot postseason on Sunday in Los Angeles when the Mets will face the Dodgers in Game 6.
Jesse Winker Returns To DH Role For Game 5 On Friday
New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker will return to designated hitter and will bat fifth for the Mets in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Friday at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Jack Flaherty. With Winker back in there in a must-win game, veteran J.D. Martinez will retreat back to the bench after going 0-for-4 with four walks and three strikeouts in the last two games as the Mets' DH. The left-handed-hitting Winker has two hits in seven at-bats with two walks, two strikeouts and a run scored so far in the NLCS and has gone 4-for-16 with a homer, triple, three RBI, four walks, three strikeouts, a stolen base and four runs scored in eight games (six starts) this postseason. He really likes facing Flaherty, as he's hit .375 (9-for-24) with two home runs, three doubles, two RBI, three walks and three K's in his career against him.
New York Mets outfielder/designated hitter Jesse Winker is not in the starting lineup for Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. With Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez on the bump, Winker will take a seat in favor of the right-handed-hitting J.D. Martinez, who will serve as the DH and bat sixth. In nine career at-bats versus Suarez, Martinez has gone 2-for-9 with a double, two RBI, one walk and three strikeouts. Winker got the start in the Game 3 win on Tuesday and homered, but he'll take a seat with a lefty on the mound. The 37-year-old Martinez has gone 3-for-10 with three RBI and a run scored so far in five postseason games this year, and he's hit a nice .295 with 10 homers and five doubles in 38 career postseason games. However, he hit .109 (6-for-55) with no homers and 15 K's in 16 games in September.
New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker is serving as the team's designated hitter and is batting sixth on Tuesday for Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Citi Field against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Aaron Nola. Winker has extensive experience against Nola in his career, and the results haven't been good for the lefty-hitting veteran. In 24 total at-bats, Winker has only four hits (one home run), two RBI, two walks and two strikeouts for a .167 average and .522 OPS. The 31-year-old got the start in Game 1 on Saturday and was 0-for-1 with two walks before making way for J.D. Martinez at DH in Game 2 on Sunday. In 44 games for the Mets after being acquired in a trade from the Nationals in late July, Winker hit .243/.318/.365 with a below-average .683 OPS, only three home runs and 13 RBI in 129 trips to the plate. DFS managers will be hoping he can run into one as a sleeper on Tuesday.
Jesse Winker Not Starting In Game 2, J.D. Martinez In
New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker is not in the starting nine as the Mets look to go up two games in the NLDS on Sunday afternoon. Winker got the nod in the opening game but went 0-for-1 with two walks. Instead, J.D. Martinez will start at DH and bat in the six-hole. Winker is likely sitting because the Phillies are sending out left-hand Cristopher Sanchez, as Winker typically sits against southpaws during the final months of the season. DFS players should expect Winker to return to the starting nine for Game 3 when the Phillies send out Aaron Nola. Martinez is worth a look in DFS this afternoon, as he tallied two hits and three RBI during the Wild Card Series.
Jesse Winker
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Mets
