The New York Mets have brought back outfielder and designated hitter Jesse Winker on a one-year, $8 million deal, as first reported by MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
Acquired by the Mets at the trade deadline last season from the Washington Nationals, Winker overcame a difficult stretch run in the regular season and came to life in the playoffs, slashing .318/.531/.636 with one home run, four RBI, and seven walks.
The 31-year-old lefty has been one of the more reliable producers in the on-base percentage department in recent years, as his .360 mark since the start of the 2021 season is tied for 16th-best in the majors with fellow Met, Brandon Nimmo.
Winker also provides some pop to supply toward the middle of the Mets’ lineup, which is especially important considering Pete Alonso’s uncertain future with the team as he remains wading in the waters of free agency. Over the last four seasons, Winker has posted 162-game averages of 19 home runs with 73 RBI. He hit a career-high 24 round-trippers with 71 RBI in 2021 with the Cincinnati Reds.
His passion quickly made him a fan favorite in Queens, which was almost unthinkable considering the role he played as a villain during his time with the Reds and Seattle Mariners. But Winker almost immediately fell in love with the team upon his acquisition in late July.
“To see how everything started with this back and forth, it’s incredible,” Winker told amNewYork in October. “Mets fans understood me, and they understood my act, I guess. These people are amazing. I’m so thankful for them. How this organization has taken me in and everyone else that’s been traded here… it’s been amazing.”
Where Winker will fit into New York’s puzzle in 2025 remains to be seen, though. The outfield depth chart is at capacity with Nimmo, Juan Soto, Starling Marte, Tyrone Taylor, and Jose Siri in the mix. He most likely will adopt more of a DH role, but with Alonso’s future uncertain, a move to first base cannot be ruled out, either.
