Jesse Winker DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker could see time at first base during the 2025 campaign. On a zoom conference, Winker expressed he is "capable" of playing first base when asked. He played first base during a rehab assignment in 2023 and even took ground balls at that position last season. While the Mets have remained in conversation with free agent Pete Alonso, several reports suggest that the Mets have begun to pivot to alternate options as he is unlikely to return to Queens. One of these alternatives was Winker, who the team signed to a one-year $7.5 million contract last week. Winker opened the 2024 campaign with the Nationals but was shipped to the Mets at the deadline. Across 145 contests, the 31-year-old posted a .253/.360/.405 line with 14 home runs and 14 stolen bases. Mark Vientos is another option to cover first base, which would open up the hot corner for Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuna, or Brett Baty.

Free-agent outfielder Jesse Winker re-signed with the New York Mets on Thursday on a one-year deal worth $7.5 million. With bonuses, Winker has a chance to make a maximum of $9 million. The 31-year-old veteran left-handed hitter began last season with the Washington Nationals and was acquired by the Mets at the trade deadline. He had a solid year overall, slashing a combined .253/.360/.405 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI, a career-high 14 stolen bases and 63 runs scored in 145 games played. He hit .243/.318/.365 with a .683 OPS, three long balls, 13 RBI and 12 runs scored in 44 regular-season games after joining the Mets. Winker was better in 10 playoff games, sporting a 1.168 OPS and a home run. Winker should see consistent at-bats against right-handers in the outfield and at DH, but he's only hit 20 homers once in eight big-league seasons and probably won't steal double-digit bases in 2025.

According to Andy Martino of SNY, free agent outfielder Jesse Winker has been linked to the Mets during free agency. Martino noted that a reunion is "very possible." The 31-year-old opened the season with the Washington Nationals but was shipped to Queens during the stretch run. Across 44 regular season games with the Mets, Winker held a .243/.318/.365 and hit five doubles and three home runs. Overall, Winker hit 23 doubles and 14 home runs across 145 games last season. During the postseason, he posted an impressive .318/.351/.636 line across ten games. He showed a strong eye at the plate with a 12.4% walk rate and 19.0% chase rate. Martino noted that Winker would be a target for the Mets if they were unable to bring back Pete Alonso. If he were to return to Queens, he would likely see time as a designated hitter and occasionally in the outfield.

New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker notched an RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth inning as part of a multi-hit effort in the Mets' 12-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. Winker's RBI triple extended the Mets' lead to 9-2 at the time and essentially helped bury the Dodgers' hopes of posting any sort of comeback. Winker improved his OPS to 1.203 in the postseason, the highest mark in the Mets' lineup. The lefty also recorded three runs on the night, scoring every time he was able to reach base. Winker has been a very under-the-radar player for the Mets this postseason and DFS players may want to look to add him in their lineups for a sneaky play. He'll look to continue his hot postseason on Sunday in Los Angeles when the Mets will face the Dodgers in Game 6.

New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker will return to designated hitter and will bat fifth for the Mets in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Friday at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Jack Flaherty. With Winker back in there in a must-win game, veteran J.D. Martinez will retreat back to the bench after going 0-for-4 with four walks and three strikeouts in the last two games as the Mets' DH. The left-handed-hitting Winker has two hits in seven at-bats with two walks, two strikeouts and a run scored so far in the NLCS and has gone 4-for-16 with a homer, triple, three RBI, four walks, three strikeouts, a stolen base and four runs scored in eight games (six starts) this postseason. He really likes facing Flaherty, as he's hit .375 (9-for-24) with two home runs, three doubles, two RBI, three walks and three K's in his career against him.