PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets’ new star right fielder homered again Friday night, part of a stellar spring training from Juan Soto.
Three years ago, that role was Starling Marte’s, fresh off signing a four-year, $78 million free agent deal, and he went out and played well before injuries began taking a toll on him early in the contract.
Now, after it appeared he’d be headed out of Queens in a trade following the Soto signing, as well as the new deal for Jesse Winker, Marte has stuck with the Mets — and unless something unexpected happens before Opening Day in less than two weeks, he’ll still be with them.
And with Brandon Nimmo still dealing with right knee soreness of his own that could extend into the regular season, there could be more at-bats for Marte, at least in the early part of the season.
If Nimmo is unable to play — or play the outfield — it might force Winker and Marte into the field more often.
Marte continues to be OK with his reduced role, which seemed likely to limit him to being the DH against left-handed pitchers, with the lefty-swinging Winker starting versus righties, without the Nimmo injury.
On Friday, Marte served as the DH for the third time in five days — this time against Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy — since returning from right knee soreness.
He has so far looked good at the plate.
“I’m ready and willing and able to do whatever the team needs me to do,” Marte said through an interpreter. “As a player, you can only control what you do on the field and I want to do my best.”
What Marte’s best is at this point remains to be seen, as he’s battled injuries throughout his Mets tenure.
And he hasn’t approached the production he had earlier in his career.
Asked if he believed he could get back to being that type of player, Marte said, “I think it depends on the game situation. Sometimes you try to do more and try to do things at the level you used to and you wind up doing less because of it. Sometimes you have to read the game situation and do the work.”
Marte was also able to run the bases well enough on Wednesday and didn’t suffer any ill effects, which was a positive.
“It feels good, but I have to work and continue to get treatments so that when I get the opportunity, I can showcase what I can do,’’ Marte said. “It’s been difficult dealing with the injuries and not playing at the level that I know I’m capable of playing. But I’m thankful I’ve got an opportunity to play the game.”
