Mets shopping $78 million two-time All-Star after historic Juan Soto deal: report | Sporting News

The New York Mets made sports history with a massive contract for superstar slugger Juan Soto this week. But there’s still work to do.

After locking in the best player on the market, the Mets will need to explore some additional moves if they hope to build on their trip to the National League Championship Series in 2024. And one area that they could be targeting is the bullpen, perhaps at the expense of a veteran who will be replaced by Soto, according to Mets On SI reporter Pat Ragazzo.

“The Mets are open to trading veteran outfielder/DH Starling Marte in exchange for relief help, and have already talked to a number of teams, as sources told Mets On SI,” Ragazzo reported. “In order to move Marte, the Mets would likely have to pay down a portion of the slugger’s salary as the 36-year-old is set to make $20.75 million in 2025 in what is the fourth-and-final season of his four-year, $78 million deal. Per sources, the Mets seem willing to pay for part of his contract if it nets them a bullpen piece or several.”

It’s understandable if the Mets now see relief help as a bigger priority than outfield slugging after adding Soto. Marte, who holds two All-Star nods and two Gold Glove Awards in his 13 years of big-league service, primarily played right field for the Mets when he was defending in 2024. That is also Soto’s primary defensive position.

The Mets do have a relatively deep bullpen at this point, with 10 players listed on the depth chart, but it’s hard to feel like you ever have enough effective pitching when a World Series championship is the goal.

“Pitching currently appears to be the focus for the Mets, who could use at least one more big-league starter after signing Frankie Montas and converted reliever Clay Holmes to join Kodai Senga and David Peterson in the rotation,” Ragazzo added. “But beyond starting pitching, the Mets are in desperate need of major league relievers as they have only added to their bullpen depth with a plethora of minor league deals this offseason.”

If the Mets are willing to eat some of Marte’s salary, he could intrigue a team in search of a low-risk offensive boost or as one aspect of a larger package. He slashed .269/.327/.388 in 2024, but isn’t too far removed from a .292/.347/.468 All-Star season in 2022.

Star closers like Ryan Helsley of the St. Louis Cardinals and Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers could be on the trading block. With some additional pieces involved, the Mets might be looking to land one of those players in a deal involving Marte.

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