Starling Marte's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (groin) played winter ball last month and is confident in his health and ability to play right field every day for the start of the 2024 season after missing most of the final two months of 2023 with a right-groin strain. The 35-year-old veteran underwent double-groin surgery the previous winter. "I know that I am good [physically]," Marte said Sunday. The Mets will probably consider Marte for designated hitter at-bats in 2024, but his preference is to play right field. Marte appeared in only 86 games last year and slashed .248/.301/.324 with five homers and 28 RBI. According to manager Carlos Mendoza, Marte is still viewed as a full-time right-fielder. Marte can be a solid power/speed player for fantasy managers when he's healthy, but his age and injury history make him a pretty risky fantasy selection.

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Monday that he was encouraged by outfielder Starling Marte's (groin) health heading into 2024. The 35-year-old, who played just 86 games in 2023 due to a groin injury, was able to participate in winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Stearns said, "It was clear watching him play that he was healthy." Marte has been a fantasy contributor in batting average and steals throughout his career, but he has not reached at least 600 plate appearances since 2018. While he still managed to steal 24 bases in just 341 plate appearances last season, Marte's fantasy value this season will ultimately be dictated by whether he can stay healthy.

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (groin) is hitting second and playing right field on Wednesday in his first winter ball game for the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic. It was another injury-filled year for Marte in 2023, but it's a good sign that he's already playing in games this offseason. The 35-year-old outfielder was a pretty big risk in fantasy leagues in 2023 while coming off double-groin surgery. The two-time All-Star ended up playing in only 86 games while hitting .248 (78-for-315) with only five home runs and 28 RBI, although he did steal 24 bases in 341 plate appearances. Marte could bounce back with better health in 2024, but he'll remain a pretty big injury risk and it remains to be seen how much he'll keep running as he tries to stay on the field late in his career.

After missing significant time in 2023, New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (groin) is likely to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic after New Year's Day, according to people briefed on the matter. However, nothing has been firmly established regarding Marte's offseason plans, and it's unclear how much action he'll see if he actually plays. He's entering the third year of a four-year deal with the Mets worth $78 million. The 35-year-old veteran hasn't played winter ball since between the 2017 and 2018 seasons after missing time in '17 due to a suspension. Marte was limited to 86 games in 2023 due to various injuries and hit .248/.301/.324 with five home runs and 24 stolen bases in 341 plate appearances. He was a pretty big fantasy risk coming off double-groin surgery in 2022. Marte appears to be in a better spot heading into the 2024 season and should bounce back offensively, but at his age, the injury concerns aren't going to go away.