One of the Mets’ newest acquisitions this offseason is already dealing with an injury. Presumed centerfielder Starling Marte didn’t take part in the team’s workout on Monday due to oblique soreness.
The good news for the 33-year-old is X-Rays came back negative and the Mets are likely being cautious with one of their premier signings.
Marte missed 40 games in 2021. He was placed on the injured list once with a fractured rib but it was initially believed to be an injury to his oblique or intercostal muscle. The injury would keep Marte out for over a month. He also suffered injuries to his head (hit by a pitch) and lat at the end of the season.
The Mets do have reason to be cautious and slightly worried about the player they signed to a four-year, $78 million contract last November.
In 2018, Marte was on the injured list with a right oblique strain, missing 10 games. In 2019 he went on the IL with an abdominal wall contusion. Back in his rookie season in 2012, Marte strained his right oblique and was out for 19 days.
Marte hasn’t been the pinnacle of health in his career. He missed 30 games in 2019, half the season in 2017, and another 30 in 2016 his lone All-Star year. Marte did lead the league with 61 games played in 2020, a result of a mid-season trade from Arizona to Miami.
If he’s out for any period of time, Brandon Nimmo would slide over to center with one of Jeff McNeil or Dominic Smith playing in left field. The Mets still have a shallow outfield corps, especially defensively, if they were to lose either Marte or Nimmo for an extended amount of time this season.
Marte being out also prevents the Mets from seeing his impact at the top of the lineup. Likely slotting in at leadoff or number two, Marte finished last season with a .310/.383/.458 slash line and 47 steals. He led the majors in stolen bases and was only caught five times.
The Mets will need Marte to be healthy if they want to take the leap into the playoffs and beyond. It’s rare to see someone so aggressive on the basepaths be able to get on base at such a high clip. The Mets are being precautionary now but an oblique strain if not fully healed will be something to manage throughout the season.
The post Mets Taking Careful Approach With Starling Marte’s Injury first appeared on Metsmerized Online.
