A hectic Black Friday shopping spree concluded for the Mets with Starling Marte wrapped up and ready for placement in center field.
The veteran outfielder agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $78 million, an industry source confirmed, giving the Mets a third new player Friday. MLB Network first reported the deal, which is pending a physical.
The 33-year-old Marte was regarded as the best pure center fielder on the free-agent market. A former Gold Glove winner, he split last season between Miami and Oakland, finishing with a .310/.383/.458 slash line with 12 homers and 55 RBIs, leading the major leagues with 47 stolen bases.
The agreement came on the same day the Mets added outfielder Mark Canha on a two-year deal worth $26.5 million with a club option for 2024. The team also agreed to terms with veteran infielder Eduardo Escobar on a two-year contract worth $20 million that holds a club option for 2024.
Marte’s arrival will shift Brandon Nimmo to a corner-outfield position. It also appears unlikely the Mets will pursue Michael Conforto, who declined the club’s qualifying offer worth $18.4 million for next season to seek a longer-term deal.
Marte, according to Baseball Savant, ranked in the 82nd percentile among MLB center fielders last season, recording three outs above average. The Yankees, Phillies, Marlins and Rangers were among the other teams linked to Marte, who began his major league career with the Pirates in 2012, playing eight seasons for the team.
Canha, 32, spent the last seven years with the Athletics, for whom he played all three outfield positions and first base. The additions (also including Escobar) were the first of note by Billy Eppler, just over a week into his tenure as the team’s new general manager.
Last season Canha posted a .231/.358/.387 slash line with 17 homers and 61 RBIs in 141 games. He joins an outfield mix that in addition to Nimmo and Marte includes Dominic Smith, Khalil Lee and Nick Plummer (a former Cardinals prospect who signed a one-year major league deal with the Mets earlier in the week). Two pieces of the Mets’ outfield mix from last season, Conforto and Kevin Pillar, became free agents.
Canha’s addition eliminates the possibility of a Pillar reunion. If Conforto signs elsewhere, the Mets would receive a compensatory draft pick.
Smith and Jeff McNeil both saw action in left field for the Mets last season, but one or both could be traded this winter after disappointing 2021 seasons. However, the strong possibility of a universal DH in the next collective bargaining agreement will leave room for an extra bat. The Mets also have to decide if J.D. Davis still fits with the club following his injury-shortened season.
Defensively, Canha is solid. Last season he was plus-two in outs above average as an outfielder, according to baseball savant.
With the collective bargaining agreement close to expiration and a Dec. 2 lockout expected, the Mets figure to spend the next several days focused on Javier Baez and the starting rotation. Baez has indicated he wants to sign before the lockout — the Mets are among several teams in play for the veteran infielder. On the rotation front, Kevin Gausman could be a top target on the free-agent market. A reunion with Marcus Stroman may not be as likely. Stroman tweeted Friday:
“I would love to be back on the squad next year. I’ve proven that I can pitch in NY…others usually crumble under that New York pressure. However, I know a source who says the front office rather the other pitchers on the market. I’m going to dominate wherever I end up!”
In a separate tweet Stroman added: “The source is me.”