This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
NEW YORK -- This time of year, nearly every baseball player is dealing with something. Starling Marte, roughly one month shy of his 37th birthday, is no different.
For the past two seasons, Marte has battled right knee issues stemming from a bone bruise in that area. He missed much of the second half last year before playing through pain down the stretch and in October. He went on the injured list again this July.
The difference is that this year, Marte has figured out how to manage it. The treatment plan Mets performance staffers gave him is working. Each day, Marte spends time in the training room, part of a lengthy routine to prep himself for games.
The results have been plain to see for Marte as he comes to the end of the four-year, $78 million contract he signed before the 2022 season. Through Sunday’s play, he was batting .280/.358/.432 with eight homers and seven stolen bases over 82 games. While Marte’s counting stats may not seem like much, that’s largely because he’s become a part-time player at this point in his career. On a per-rate basis, Marte is giving the Mets by far his best season since his ’22 All-Star campaign.
“Now, he’s in a way better spot,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Especially early on, before he went down before the All-Star break when we ended up putting him on the IL, it was a grind for him. But obviously the trainers are doing a hell of a job with him, and he’s got a really good routine.
“We have to take care of him. I feel like now, he’s in a better spot where it’s not as hard. He’s still got to get in there, he’s still got to get treatment, he’s still got to take care of it. He’s not going to make excuses, and he goes out there and performs. He’s a big part of this team. But I like where he’s at right now, physically.”
Heading into the final month of the season, the Mets don’t need Marte to be much more than a part-time DH. When Marte is hot at the plate, Mendoza will start him more often than not. If the Mets are dealing with a minor outfield injury, Mendoza may ask Marte to step in. This limited role is one that Marte, a full-time player for nearly his entire career, has come to accept. He brings levity and a touch of leadership to the clubhouse.
What comes next for Marte isn’t entirely clear. Heading into free agency at age 37, Marte isn’t an obvious fit for a Mets team that has plenty of DH options. But Marte does still want to play in 2026 and beyond, for as long as teams will have him.
“It’s whatever God has planned for me,” he said. “I think the most important thing is that I’m going to go out there, play at a high level, stay healthy and do my best in whatever capacity that may be. But yeah, I want to continue playing.”