The New York Mets are finalizing a commerce to amass outfielder Jesse Winker from the Washington Nationals, wanting so as to add one other productive bat to among the finest lineups in baseball, sources inform ESPN.
The deal, which is pending medical evaluation, would ship the 31-year-old to a New York staff that since June 3 has scored essentially the most runs in baseball and hit the second-most house runs. In that point, the Mets have climbed from 11 video games beneath .500 to 55-49 and in possession of the second wild-card spot within the Nationwide League.
Winker’s resurgence this 12 months has seen him return to being a high-on-base menace with loads of energy and pace. In 101 video games, he’s hitting .257/.374/.419 with 11 house runs and 14 stolen bases. His 14% stroll price is fifth in baseball, behind solely Juan Soto, Aaron Choose, Kyle Schwarber and Mookie Betts.
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Again accidents in 2023 restricted Winker to 61 video games with Milwaukee, and that got here after he struggled in 2022 following a commerce to Seattle. In 2021, Winker was elite offensively, hitting .305/.394/.556 and pummeling right-handed pitching.
The Mets had sought a left-handed outfield bat, additionally contemplating a reacquisition of Michael Conforto. Ought to the Winker deal be accomplished, they’re going to as a substitute get an outfielder who has proven love for Mets followers previously after some playful repartee that included him waving at Citi Discipline following a game-tying house run two years in the past and doing the identical after a game-ending, sliding catch three years earlier.
He would be part of a Mets outfield that features Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, Tyrone Taylor and DJ Stewart. Heart fielder Harrison Bader is presently out with an ankle harm, and proper fielder Starling Marte is on the injured checklist with a right-knee situation.
New York already had acquired a pair of reduction pitchers, Ryne Stanek and Phil Maton, earlier than agreeing to the Winker deal. The regular-season-ending calf harm to starter Kodai Senga, who had missed the whole thing of the season with a shoulder ailment previous to his debut Friday, leaves the Mets probably seeking to deal for beginning pitching as effectively.
