On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
While the New York Mets signing superstar slugger Juan Soto this offseason was obviously a franchise-altering move, it doesn't necessarily mean more opportunities for everybody on New York's roster.
Despite being injured for much of the season, 36-year-old Starling Marte was the Mets' starting right fielder in 2024 whenever he was healthy. Marte signed a lucrative four-year, $78 million contract with the Mets back in 2021. After a solid 2022 season, he has spent much of the past two seasons injured.
And now with Soto (who is a right fielder) signed along with the Mets acquiring Jose Siri and re-signing Jesse Winker, Marte appears to be the odd-man out in New York's outfield; or at least will assume more of a platoon role.
A knock up the middle for Starling Marte pic.twitter.com/looAVs2pvN
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 14, 2025
While Marte is aware of his diminished role compared to years past, a comment he made to NJ Advance Media's Manny Gómez as part of a March 14 article conveys that he isn't lamenting it.
“In this role, I get to help my teammates,” Marte is quoted saying in translated Spanish. “I get to be one more person who can watch and evaluate players on the field, and see how I can help them. And then, when I get the chance to play, I’m ready for that too.”
We already know that Marte has tried to help teammate Brandon Nimmo, as Nimmo alluded to Marte having conversations with him about his own lingering knee injury on March 14.
Brandon Nimmo was asked if he could start the season as a DH: pic.twitter.com/VxrkjCzuBm
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 14, 2025
There's no question that Marte is still an extremely talented hitter who could be a massive asset for the Mets in 2025. But he'll need to remain on the field and produce in this reduced role before he gets more of an opportunity.
More must-reads:
- Best MLB trades from the last decade: American League
- Best MLB trades from the last decade: National League
- The '250-strikeout MLB seasons' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Orioles claim pair of players
The Orioles have claimed infielder Vidal Brujan off waivers from the Cubs and right-hander Carson Ragsdale off waivers from the Giants, according to a team announcement. Brujan is out of options and must be added to the big league roster but has not yet reported. Ragsdale, meanwhile, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles’ 40-man roster now stands at 37, so no corresponding 40-man moves are necessary. Brujan, 27, was a top-100 prospect in the Rays’ system for many years. He failed to establish himself at the big league level in Tampa, however, and hit just .157/.218/.221 across 99 games (272 plate appearances) between 2021 and 2023 for the club. Prior to the 2024 season, Brujan was shipped alongside reliever Calvin Faucher to the Marlins in a trade and he was able to take on a larger role with a rebuilding Miami club. With regular playing time available to him, his performance modestly improved. He remained a below-average contributor overall, however, with a 73 wRC+ despite a 19.4% strikeout rate and a 9.0% walk rate. Those solid discipline numbers were outweighed by a complete lack of power, less impressive speed on the basepaths than his days a prospect would’ve otherwise indicated, and a lackluster BABIP. While Brujan was versatile enough to hold onto a bench role for the Marlins, he was shipped to the Cubs last offseason in the Matt Mervis trade. He held onto a bench role with Chicago throughout the first half and had value on paper as a player who could help hold down third base while Matt Shaw developed in the minor leagues while also spelling Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field. Unfortunately, the fit didn’t work out as well in practice as Brujan posted an atrocious 43 wRC+ in 36 games and was designated for assignment just before the trade deadline. Ragsdale, meanwhile, is a 27-year-old right-handed starter. He was added to the Giants’ 40-man roster last November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft after he posted a strong 3.49 ERA in 14 starts at the Double-A level that year, but a career ERA north of 5.00 at Triple-A in conjunction with a 19.9% strikeout rate against a 13.0% walk rate at the level this year left Ragsdale as little more than a depth starter for a club with a number of viable young arms. San Francisco designated him for assignment to make room for top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt on the roster prior to the trade deadline. Now, both players are ticketed to join the Orioles organization. Brujan figures to join the club’s active roster within the next couple of days and could serve as a versatility utility option for the infield after Ramon Urias was traded to Houston prior to the deadline this past week. Ragsdale, meanwhile, could make his big league debut at some point down the stretch to help the Orioles eat innings amid injuries to key arms like Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez, particularly after Charlie Morton was shipped off to Detroit.
Michael Hage’s Dominance Clear at World Juniors Showcase
The World Junior Showcase showed the dominance of multiple Montreal Canadiens prospects this past week. After discussing Koivu’s play in the mini tournament earlier today, it is now time for a discussion on the 21st overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Michael Hage. Much like his Finnish counterpart, the Canadian forward Hage stood out from his teammates throughout the showcase. Hage, who is arguably a top 3 prospect within the Montreal Canadiens pipeline, put on a show that should help him secure a role within Canada’s 2026 World Juniors team. The fact that he proved to be one of the best players for Canada this past week shows that not even getting an invite to the team’s final selection camp, despite a very strong freshman season at the University of Michigan, seemed silly, as even last year, he likely should have had a shot at making the team. Now that he managed to score a goal in all 4 games that he played for Canada at the World Juniors Showcase, there is almost no way that Canada can leave him off the roster. One of the most memorable moments throughout the whole tournament for Hage was definitely when he was in a scrum, mixing it up with his former Canadiens Development camp roommate, Aatos Koivu, as previously mentioned in my article from earlier today. Another amazing moment in that game was Hage’s goal, where he completely deked around the Finland goalie to put the puck in the net. It will be interesting to see where in the Canada lineup Hage will land, as a lot of notable names such as Michael Misa, Beckett Sennecke, and Tij Iginla did not play at the showcase. The good news is that the first two names may end up playing in the NHL, allowing a spot higher in the lineup for Hage. Another thing that will work well in Hage’s favour is that he is very versatile and can play on the wing or at centre for Canada. His coach even praised his “hard skills” for Canada during those four games he played. After watching Hage’s play over the last year, one thing is clear: he could be a play driver on whatever line he plays on for Canada. His game also seems like it will translate well at the pro level. Many may say that Hage must play a top 6 role for Canada, but the fact that he can play an aggressive style and has a strong defensive game could mean that he is also able to play in a bottom-six role if need be. The truth is it would be unlikely he would have to be on the bottom 6, but if the guys mentioned above aren’t in the NHL and are instead on the team, there is a chance that it could happen. This upcoming season with the Michigan Wolverines should be a big one where Hage could find his way in the Hobey Baker conversation if he improves on his 13 goals and 34 points in 33 games. The first half of the season will be telling for his place with Hockey Canada, whereas the 2nd half could also help him earn some time at the pro level. The way Hage has played since being drafted, it feels more like it’s more about when he’ll play for the Canadiens in a regular-season game, rather than if he will. Will Hage prove that he’s ready to play at the pro level this year at Michigan?
Rumor: Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II Expected To Sign With Warriors Once Jonathan Kuminga Signs Deal
Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II are expected to sign with the Golden State Warriors once Jonathan Kuminga signs his deal, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Kuminga is a restricted free agent. Most people believe the swingman will sign his qualifying offer worth $7.9 million and then enter unrestricted free agency next offseason. “Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II have all long been expected to sign with the Warriors this summer but remain on hold when it comes to making those deals official while the Jonathan Kuminga situation plays out,” Stein wrote. Payton II and Melton played for the Warriors last season, while Horford played for the Boston Celtics. Golden State lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. The Warriors want to re-sign Kuminga. The franchise recently offered the forward a two-year, $45 million contract. Kuminga, though, declined the offer because the contract had a team option in Year 2 and there was no built-in no-trade clause. Kuminga wants to leave the Warriors. He doesn’t have a good relationship with head coach Steve Kerr. Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Warriors last season in 47 games. He shot 45.4% from the floor, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 66.8% from the free-throw line. The 22-year-old Kuminga was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He enters next season with career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists with Golden State. The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings are interested in acquiring Kuminga in a sign-and-trade deal, but the Warriors don’t like the offers. The Kings offered a three-year, $63 million deal to Kuminga, according to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic. In the sign-and-trade proposal, the Warriors would get Malik Monk and a 2030 first-round pick. More NBA News Rumors
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Could Have A New Favorite Redzone Target
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a lot of changes to their roster throughout the 2025 offseason, leading to a lot of storylines. From new signings to unexpected departures, there’s been no shortage of things for fans and analysts to talk about. Even with all the moves, however, some big questions still remain, especially when it comes to depth at key positions and who will step up to fill certain roles. One of the biggest storylines has been the addition of veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and with him leading the offense, many are wondering who he’ll be throwing to in the passing game consistently. Recently, former Steelers Super Bowl champion Trai Essex released a new episode of his podcast, The Snap Count, where he and his co-host, Charlie Batch, talked about a variety of Steelers-related topics ahead of the upcoming season. Among the topics discussed on the podcast was the highly-talked about question of who Rodgers is expected to connect with the most in the Steelers’ passing game. Essex mentioned someone that hasn’t been talked about a lot during the offseason, someone he believes could have a big impact in the end zone this year. "You know, I think Darnell Washington is going to be a huge target for Aaron Rodgers in the end zone," Essex said. Darnell Washington, who is a tight end that was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, could have a bigger role this season. While Pat Freiermuth has remained the team’s first tight end, the arrival of Rodgers may create more opportunities for Washington to get involved in the passing game. With his combination of size, strength, and receiving ability, Washington has the ability to be a serious threat in the red zone, like Essex mentioned. Rodgers is a future Hall of Famer, with a historic and successful career behind him up until this point. However, as he begins the next step in Pittsburgh, some have concerns about his age and whether he can still perform at a high level in such a physical league. What has always set Rodgers apart is his arm talent, and according to a recent report, his arm strength remains his best attribute. That not only poses a challenge for opposing defenses, but also presents an exciting opportunity for the Steelers to have a dangerous passing game. The Steelers now have a crowded and talented tight end room, especially with the recent addition of Jonnu Smith, who adds proven receiving skills and versatility to the offense. With this depth at tight end, it’s clear the position will likely play a significant role in the Steelers' offense this season. As the team continues to build around Rodgers for this year, it will be interesting to see how the targets are distributed among the many weapons at his disposal. Steelers Have Plenty Of Receiving Options There’s been plenty of talk surrounding the Steelers' wide receiver group, especially given the amount of receiving talent across the offense, including a strong tight end unit. While DK Metcalf is the clear wide receiver one, the wide receiver two spot is possibly still up for grabs, despite wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni naming Calvin Austin III as the current second option. Like Washington, Austin has a real opportunity to step up and show just how valuable he can be in the offense, especially with a quarterback as talented as Rodgers throwing the football. With this potentially being Rodgers’ final season, there’s added pressure for the Steelers to deliver results now. While much of the spotlight will be on Rodgers to lead the offense effectively, there’s also significant expectation on key receiving players players like Austin and Washington to take a big step forward and make a meaningful impact.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
