New York Mets DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (knee) is serving as the designated hitter and batting sixth on Monday in the Grapefruit League game against the St. Louis Cardinals. It is the spring training debut for the aging Marte, who hadn't played until this point due to soreness in his right knee. If the 36-year-old can avoid setbacks and also return to action on defense in right field, he should be able to avoid starting the 2025 regular season on the injured list. Still, it's a reminder to fantasy managers that Marte is an extreme injury risk in the twilight of his career and can't be counted on as a speed threat anymore. To preserve his health, the Mets are expected to give Marte plenty of built in rest days, which means he won't be a regular anymore after the team signed superstar outfielder Juan Soto this offseason as the everyday right fielder. Expect a short-side platoon for Marte with Jesse Winker in center field.UPDATE: Marte was happy with how his knee felt on Monday in his spring debut and didn't have trouble running to second on a double he hit in the second inning.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (hand) will be sidelined six-to-eight weeks due to a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. He is set to undergo surgery on Monday. The 23-year-old has been participating in spring training and was slated to be the team's primary backstop in 2025. Last summer, Alvarez missed a significant portion of the season due to a torn UCL in his left thumb. The young backstop could now be facing his second extended absence in consecutive seasons. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status as he will likely miss all of April and potentially part of May. Across 100 contests last season, the 23-year-old posted a .237/.307/.403 with 11 home runs. However, during the 2023 season, Alvarez flashed high power upside as he went deep 23 times and added 12 doubles across 123 contests. While Alvarez is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Luis Torrens to move to the top of the depth chart with Jakson Reetz serving as the No. 2 option.

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (knee) appears to have avoided a major injury, but has been shut down from baseball activities for a few days. Nimmo has been dealing with a lingering knee issue throughout camp. He underwent an MRI earlier in the week that didn't reveal any structural damage. The 31-year-old did receive a gel injection into his right knee on Saturday. The hope is that Nimmo can ramp up his activities after a few days of rest. Mets' manager Carlos Mendoza said he expects Nimmo to be ready for Opening Day. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation, but they shouldn't be too concerned about this being a long term issue.

New York Mets right-handed pitcher Max Kranick has performed very well through his first taste of spring training. Across seven innings, Kranick has tossed seven shutout frames with four hits, no walks, and eight punchouts. Given his strong performance, he could become a favorite to land a spot in the bullpen. The 27-year-old has not appeared in a major league contest since the 2022 campaign with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Through 43 2/3 career innings in the majors, Kranick has held a 5.56 ERA with a 1.65 WHIP. Last summer, the right-hander logged 63 innings with Triple-A Syracuse to the tune of a 3.57 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He tallied 53 punchouts with 20 free passes. With Sean Reid-Foley recently placed on waivers and A.J. Minter (hip) and Dedniel Nunez (elbow) in danger of not being ready for Opening Day, Kranick could become a favorite to make the roster. If he does earn a spot, he will likely have a middle-relief role.

The New York Yankees have reached out to veteran free-agent designated hitter J.D. Martinez, but the sides don't seem close on a deal and they are unlikely to reach an agreement, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. The Yankees are looking for a veteran bat with outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbow) set to open the year on the injured list with no timetable for a return as he deals with tennis elbow in both of his arms. While it doesn't look likely that Martinez will sign with the Yankees right now, that could change if Stanton is forced to miss even more time. Martinez is 37 years old and is no longer the hitter he once was after slashing only .235/.320/.406 with a .725 OPS in 120 regular-season games with the New York Mets in 2024. However, the six-time All-Star still has some pop in his bat and could be a short-term solution for the DH spot in the Bronx.