Mets to re-sign Jesse Winker

12:43 p.m.: The Post’s Joel Sherman reports that Winker is guaranteed $7.5 million on the deal and can earn another $1.5 million through incentives.

12:32 p.m.: Winker agreed to a one-year deal worth “around” $8 million, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. A $1 million signing bonus is included in this guarantee.

12:21 p.m.: Mets agree to deal to sign free agent outfielder Jesse Winker back at the club, SNY’s Andy Martino reports. Client Excel Sports Management’s contract is awaiting a medical review, according to Martino.

Winker, 31, began the 2024 season with the Nationals. He had signed a minor league contract after two injury-ruined seasons that saw him undergo knee and spine surgeries during the 2022-23 offseason. The injuries that required those surgeries in 2022 contributed to a dismal .219/.344/.344 performance with the Mariners that season, and the lingering effects likely played a role in his lukewarm .199/. .320/.247 with 2023 Mariners. Brewers.

The 2024 campaign has seemingly returned Winker to full health. He hit .257/.374/.419 in 379 plate appearances with Washington before going to Queens in a deadline trade that sent the right-hander to the minor leagues. Tyler Stuart back to the Nats. Winker hit a diminished but respectable .243/.318/.365 in 129 home runs down the stretch before catching fire with a .318/.531/.636 slash line in plate appearances on October 32 .

Winker figures to spend most of his time as a designated hitter for the Mets, who have Brandon Nimmo And Juan Soto locked in the corners of the outfield. Jose Siri, Tyrone Taylor And Marte starling are also in the outfield mix, with Marte also likely to see time at DH if he isn’t traded. The Mets explored potential deals for Marte, who is owed $19.5 million in the final season of a four-year contract, to no avail.

Winker could also spend occasional time in the outfield, of course, and he’s likely to be platooned regardless of what role he plays. He’s a career .276/.379/.463 hitter against righties, but just a .210/.324/.338 hitter against his left-handed compatriots. Winker can walk against southpaws, but almost all of his power lies in advantageous platoon matchups.

The larger, more impactful takeaway from Winker’s reunion with the Mets is that it could mean the end of Pete AlonsoIt’s time with the club. Martino reports that the Winker deal is the start of a change in focus from Alonso, who the Mets believe is more likely to sign somewhere other than Queens. Their plan going forward appears to be to spread Alonso’s potential money to different targets, the first of which is Winker.

With that in mind, it’s possible the Mets could turn to outside options at first base, but a good portion of that market has been scooped up. Stay internally, Marc Vientos would likely move from third base to first base, setting the stage for a competition between Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio And Luisangel Acuña. There are more third base options on the market than first base — Alex BregmanA Nolan Arenado trade — but it’s hard to fathom the idea that the Mets would balk at a long-term deal for Alonso and then make a significant commitment to older infielders like Bregman (still looking for a long-term deal term) or Arenado (34 years old and owed $64 million over the next three seasons).

The addition of Winker brings the Mets’ payroll to approximately $287 million, according to RosterResource. Their cash payroll is actually slightly higher than their luxury tax ledger, as mandated by the Mets’ long-term contracts. Edwin Diaz And Kodai Senga are a little anticipated and include 2025 salaries higher than the respective annual values ​​of the contracts. New York is currently about $17 million away from the highest luxury tier, at $301 million. They will pay a 95% tax on any dollar spent up to $301 million, then a 110% tax on any dollar spent after that. Because they are now over the $241 million threshold by more than $40 million, their first pick in the 2026 draft will move down ten spots (barring additional moves to drop down and stay in the second penalty tier).