New York Mets get: OF Jesse Winker
Washington Nationals get: RHP Tyler Stuart
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Andy McCullough: Five years ago, Jesse Winker irritated Mets fans writ large when he waved at a few of them gathered along the left-field line after sliding to make a game-ending catch. Now, after a half-decade as a minor antagonist at Citi Field, Winker will wave hello. And those fans will be happy to have him, especially if Winker can keep pounding right-handed pitchers.
The Mets needed a left-handed bat to diversify the lineup, especially with outfielders Harrison Bader and Starling Marte on the injured list. Winker profiles as a more productive player than their current two bench left-handed hitters, Ben Gamel and DJ Stewart. Winker, ranked No. 30 overall and No. 21 among the available bats on The Athletic’s Top 50 Trade Deadline Big Board, has revived himself after a brutal 2023 campaign with Milwaukee. He’s hitting .257./.374/.419 with 11 homers. He does not make particularly hard contact, but maintains value with his ability to get on base (.374 overall and .390 against righties). The Mets already have a bunch of players capable of hitting the ball over the fence. Winker looks like someone who could be on base a decent amount ahead of them.
Mike Rizzo signed Winker on a $2 million flier this past winter. The deal worked out for Washington. Winker played well for a team that flirted with the wild-card race early in the summer. With the Nationals falling out of contention, Rizzo spun off Winker for Stuart, a very large man (he stands 6 foot 9) with a good slider. Despite his size, Stuart does not produce elite fastball velocity, which limits his ceiling. Stuart, currently at Double A, spent his college career at Southern Mississippi as a reliever but put up good numbers after transitioning into a starting role last season. The combination of his command and his slider gives him a shot to reach the majors as a swingman, some scouts believe.
It’s not a massive return for the Nationals. But given the size of their initial investment in Winker, it’s a solid pickup for the Nationals.
Mets: B+
Nationals: B+
Chad Jennings: The Mets have not been hopeless against right-handed pitching — .729 OPS, 10th in the majors — but their lineup has lacked left-handed balance. Jeff McNeil has struggled, Brett Baty was demoted, and the team is carrying DJ Stewart (.624 OPS) and Ben Gamel (.556 OPS) as left-handed corner bats. Winker, then, is a clear upgrade and brings some immediate balance to a roster that could use it. He’s not exactly an all-in move, but for a Mets team that’s played its way back into contention, he’s a logical fit at a reasonable cost.
In Stuart, the Nationals got a big lefty who’s been working as a starter but might end up as a swingman or a fastball/slider reliever. It’s a decent return on investment after signing Winker for just $2 million this offseason.
Mets: B+
Nationals: B-
(Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images)
