The Mets have activated veteran outfielder Starling Marte from the 10-day injured list, according to a team announcement. To make room for Marte on the active roster, the club has designated outfielder Ben Gamel for assignment. The club’s 40-man roster now stands at 39.
Marte, 35, is a two-time All-Star and veteran of 13 MLB seasons who first joined the Mets back in 2022. The outfielder’s time in New York got off to a strong start in his first season with the club when he slashed an excellent .292/.347/.468 (134 wRC+) in 505 trips to the plate. That earned him his second career All-Star appearance and even some down-ballot MVP votes, but the good times did not continue until his sophomore season with the Mets as he was plagued by injury woes and struggled to perform even in the 86 games where he was healthy enough to take the field with a lackluster 76 wRC+ thanks in large part to career-worst power numbers.
It was hard to know what to expect from Marte entering the 2024 season after battling groin, migraine, and neck issues the previous year. In terms of results on the field, Marte’s performance has been a clear success as he’s slashed a solid .278/.328/.416 (113 wRC+) while chipping in 12 stolen bases in 66 games. The downside, of course, is that Marte has been limited to just 66 games due to a bone bruise in his knee that sidelined him for nearly two months. Now that he’s once again active, Marte figures to work into a crowded outfield mix that currently features Brandon Nimmo and Jesse Winker in the outfield corners with Harrison Bader in center while Jeff McNeil also vies for occasional starts.
It’s not yet clear just how frequently Marte will start going forward given the strong performances of Bader and Winker this year, although it’s worth noting that Winker has slumped somewhat in 14 games since being dealt to New York by the Nationals. It’s possible that the Mets will use Marte as their usual starter in right field while allowing Winker to mix in to keep the oft-injured veteran fresh, perhaps also kicking Nimmo to center on occasion to get Winker into the lineup more often. At the very least, Marte appears to be a strong bet to make regular starts against lefty pitchers given the fact that Winker and Bader both sport lackluster numbers against southpaws.
Exiting the roster to make room for Marte is Gamel, a 32-year-old outfielder who has now played in parts of nine big league seasons. Initially a tenth-round pick by the Yankees back in 2010, Gamel made his big league debut with the club in 2016 but lasted just six games before being dealt to Seattle. He posted a roughly league average .264/.334/.392 slash line in four seasons as a regular with the Mariners and Brewers from 2017 to 2020 and has subsequently offered similarly average production at the plate while bouncing between Cleveland, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Queens.
He’s stepped up to the plate just 30 times with the Mets at the big league level this year, posting a .217/.400/.261 in that minimal playing time but paired it with an excellent .314/.423/.539 line at the Triple-A level. With the trade deadline in the rear view mirror, Gamel figures to be placed on waivers in the coming days, where any team will have the opportunity to claim the outfielder and bring him into the fold. If he clears waivers, he’ll have the opportunity to elect free agency and return to the open market in search of an opportunity elsewhere, though it’s also possible he could remain with the Mets as non-roster depth.
Not one single player from the 2006 League Championship competing Mets is still playing on the team. Think of that (!)
It’s ‘24 , I would wonder if 18yrs later some rookie was still w/ the team then they would probably rank as one of the greatest Mets of all time.
“Think of that”…And everyone who booked passage on the original “Titanic” is still dead. Think of that.
Julio Franco could still play and hit .280 plus
Is there a player on any team still from 2006? Kids born in 2006 just graduated high school.
Clayton Chokeshaw.
Was a rookie in 2008. Also Rich Hill might play this year he’s the only other one.
The fact that, when Rich Hill broke in, people were listening to “Hollaback Girl” makes me wonder where time went.
Rich Hill shouldn’t count. He’s practically played for every team. Eventually, he’ll play for every team if he hasn’t yet.
Verlander if he makes it back
Think of what you said… and g he are 18 years ago. I know you can’t be that dumb… rethink what you said and correct it so u don’t look foolish lol
Nobody on that team is even still playing baseball. Ollie Perez last played in 2022 probably was the last one.
Is anyone from the 2006 Cardinals still on their team?
Molina.
Pujols
@raisiness
The troll above was talking about active players when he took a shot at your Mets.
Which troll? We’re all trolls. Trolololololo♫ ♪ ♬
This is hilarious.
Not one single player from the 1953 Yankees is playing with that team either.
I refuse to believe that. s/
and KISS ,Aerosmith and others have retired..now wtf do we do for jams!
Not one single Yankee from the 2009 team is still on that team. And only one is STILL playing at all: 39 year old David Robertson!
Noone from the original 4 tops is playing either. Or Molly Hatchett. Or Lynryd Skynyrd. Old guys in diapers during band practice when they’re chanting Whats your name dude goes, “no for reelz, whats your name?”
Yup and KISS and Aerosmith,2 bands I loved in the 70’s just retired ..wtf am I gonna do now?
2006 was a long time ago. Pretty certain no one remains from the 2015 NL pennant team either. Nimmo was likely on 40 man but didn’t make ML debut till following season. I believe he’s only current NYM from 2016 WC team
Seems like DJ LeDone was in such a rush to rake on the Mets that when he misfired typing he looks like a fool.
Who’s DJ LeDone is he like DJ Pitbull a guy with a mic and handling the 1s and 2?
“Long time ago”…The Met’s ’16 “super rotation” of Degrom, “Dark Knight”, “Thor” and to a lesser extent Steven Matz, sure didn’t last long did it? It sure illustrates just how fleeting elite performance in professional sports can be.
Thor couldn’t learn to pitch without relying on his heater after TJ surgery, and Matt Harvey fizzled out soon after. Degrom, well he hasn’t been consistent either.
Good Luck Ben ! Remember you in Milwaukee!
You forgot Tyrone Taylor in the outfield mix, he’ll probably be in the bench mix.
Gamel is on the move again. He’s one of several Yankees draft picks that have failed to make an impact in the MLB. The Yankees need to change immediately about drafting and developing players. Especially if this regime continues to throw money around at wrong the free agents and refuses to increase payroll.
Your expecting big impact from a 10th round pick? He wasn’t Yankee very long after trading to Seattle
Mets should sign Taylor Motter next because he looks like fat Kurt Cobain
If Marte is healthy and his old self the Mets lineup gets even better.
Huge step up from Gamel, for sure.
But he is quite possibly the worst defensive outfielder in MLB.
Not to mention his lack of hustle at times.
But he has one hell of an arm , accurate too.
Yep. That’s how bad his range is. 93rd percentile arm, 3rd percentile defender.
He’s missed so much time too, so all the counting OAA calculations are likely far more rosy than he really is.
Just hoping he regains some form so Mets might be able to move him (eating decent amount of his remaining salary) in the offseason. Mainly some salary/payroll relief with lottery prospect.
He’s not, and he won’t be. He’s primarily a singles hitter now who’s a disaster in the OF at -12 runs by Statcast over roughly a full season bt 2023 and 2024, a whopping -22 by DRS over the same period, and no improvement bt 2023 and 2024..
The Mets should have kept Marte off the 26-man. “His old self” died with the multiple groin injuries, surgeries, and hitting his mid-30s. Gamel’s the better player at this point in his career—though that’s admittedly not saying much—whereas if Marte slips an inch he’ll actively cost a game just as he did in 2023.
Might take a moment for Marte to get sea legs. NYM need him. For my money his injury absence in late 2022 was the reason team lost division late. He was a catalyst that season
Exactly right. But he hasn’t done much since
Gosh darn it! I can’t believe Brazoban blew another lead!
Oh wait…he’s not with the Marlins anymore.
Whew…I was having Marlins Pre-Trade Deadline Bullpen Meltdown flashbacks from 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Uh-oh, Mariners fans… Ben Gamel is on waivers… Don’t DO it, Jerry…