The Mets are ready to get an outfielder Jesse Winker to the Nationals, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. As noted by Andrew Golden of The Washington Post, a deal is currently pending. The return referred to DC to replace Winker’s services is unknown at this time.
Winker, 31 next month, was selected by the Reds in the first round in 2012 and posted excellent numbers in five seasons with the team. From 2017 to 2021, Winker slashed .288/.385/.504 with a 132 wRC+ as the team’s regular lefty, though he was mostly protected from lefties during his years in Cincinnati. Even though he tends to stay against southpaws, however, Winker’s ability to hook the right-handed ball earned him an All-Star nod in 2021 when he posted a 148 wRC+ in 485 trips to the plate. After the 2021 season, Winker found himself dealing with Seattle on the sidelines Eugenio Suarez in the blockbuster that sent Justin Dunn, Jake Fraleyagain Brandon Williamson in Cincinnati.
However, when he left the Reds, Winker began to struggle. A down season in Seattle in which he posted a wRC+ of 108 and a career-low slugging percentage led the Mariners to return Winker to the NL Central following the 2022 campaign, this time on the sidelines. Abraham Toro to get a second baseman Kolten Wong for the Brewers. Winker’s time in Milwaukee was a rough one, as he battled a neck injury and struggled badly when he was healthy enough to take the field. While Winker was going at a solid 13.2% clip with the Brewers, he hit .198 while slugging one home run in 197 trips to the plate, leaving him with a 65 wRC+ that was 35% worse than the league average last year.
That poor 2023 campaign led to Winker signing with the rebuilding Nationals to a minor league deal in his first trip through free agency last winter, and Winker found himself named to the team’s Opening Day roster. While splitting time between left field and DH in the Nationals, Winker also returned to the offense.
it was a standard for him in his days with the Reds. In 100 games with Washington this year, he hit an impressive .253/.372/.417 with 11 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and an impressive 14.1% walk rate in 376 plate trips this year . Winker’s production has come largely against right-handed pitching, where he sported a 138 wRC+ on the year, but he has improved significantly against southpaws this year to post nearly a 93 wRC+ against them. This is a big step up from his career year in 2021 when he posted a wRC+ of just 57 against lefties.
For the Mets, Winker seems unlikely to be an everyday player given the availability JD Martinez as the team’s regular DH as well Brandon Nimmo patrolling left field every day. It’s a typical midfield player Harrison Bader currently dealing with an ankle injury, it’s possible Winker could see some starts in left field with Nimmo sliding to center while Bader is out. Both Nimmo and Winker also have unusual experience in right field for their careers as well, meaning the Mets could look to insert each in the corner outfield on either side of Bader this season. Star Marte he is on the injured list in a possible push Jeff McNeil either out of line or back to the dirty interior.
No matter how many times Winker is listed in the Mets’ lineup, he is sure to improve the club’s offense. DJ Stewart he is currently being used as a limited bench defense in Queens but has delivered just a 95 wRC+ with a .674 OPS against righty pitching. Winker’s 128 wRC+ and .834 OPS against righties both easily erase those moms, and it’s easy to imagine Winker being used in the same role that Stewart collected 184 trips to the plate this year while bouncing between the DH, outfield position. corners, even the first base as needed.
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