2024 Mets Report Card: Starling Marte, OF

Grade: C+

2024 Review

Unfortunately, it was another injured-riddled season for the New York Mets’ outfielder Starling Marte in 2024. A bone bruise in his knee caused Marte to miss eight weeks, limiting him to only 335 at-bats in the regular season. This was the second-straight season the now 36-year-old Marte missed extended time, as in 2023, he was limited to only 315 at-bats.

When he was on the field, Marte did well offensively. His batting average was above league average and his OPS was almost 100 points higher than it was during his troublesome 2023 year. Despite the aging legs, the active major-league leaders in stolen bases flexed his base-stealing prowess, swiping 16 bags and getting caught only once. Overall, when he was healthy, Marte was a meaningful contributor at the plate.

Interestingly enough, Marte’s 2024 analytics paints a picture of a hitter that was a victim of extremely bad luck. Marte’s expected batting average (xBA) of .290 was 21 points higher than his actual average. Not to mention, his expected-weighted on-base percentage (xwOBA) and expected slugging (xSLG) numbers were also each much higher than his actual numbers. Marte his the ball hard (65th percentile hard-hit rate and 62nd percentile average exit velocity), but, unfortunately, more often than not it was either hit right at defenders or the opposition played superb defense. He certainly deserved better offensive results in 2024.

Regardless of the poor luck, Marte still turned in an above-average offensive season. His 104 OPS+ and 104 wRC+ were both over the 100 league average. This, along with him still being a threat on the basepaths, and the 36-year-old is still a meaningful contributor on the offensive side of things. Not to mention, his playoff success, as he was third on the team in postseason RBIs slashing .277/.345/.362. Specifically, he had a .333 batting average and an OPS over .750 (.839 in the NLCS) in both the NLWC and NLDS.

Outside of the injury woes, the most startling part of Marte’s 2024 season was his defense. Marte, who won back-to-back Gold Gloves earlier in his career, has seen his defense steadily decline over the last few seasons.

After posting a 67th percentile outs above average (OAA) in 2021, that figure has steadily declined culminating in a negative-8 OAA in 2024; good for the league’s fifth percentile. The same holds true for Marte’s defensive runs saved (DRS) numbers, as he has posted a negative-6 and negative-7 ratings the last two seasons, respectively.

Now, Marte’s arm certainly makes up for some of his woes. His arm strength, which has been one of the best in the leagues since he broke into the majors, ranked in the league’s 90th percentile. However, the range (106th of 113 outfielders to play 500 innings this year in OAA) is just way too much to overcome.

All-in-all, factoring in the playoff success and the above-average offensive season, Marte may have not been worth the money he was being paid, but was still a solid player for the Mets in 2024.

2025 Overview

The four-year contract worth $78 million Marte signed prior to the 2022 season is set to expire after the 2025 season. So, pending any type of trade, which likely would have to come in the form of a type of salary dump, Marte will be on the Mets’ Opening Day roster in 2025.

As the above indicates, Marte appears to still be a very serviceable offensive bat with some juice on the bases. Marte crushed left-handed pitching in 2023, posting a .310 batting average and .844 OPS. With his defensive woes, it would be better for the Mets to give Marte designated hitter at-bats when possible. However, based off the offensive numbers, both the analytical and the traditional in 2024, Marte deserves to be in the lineup whenever they face a left-handed pitcher in 2025.

With that being said, Marte is 36 years old and has battled injury issues in each of the last two seasons. Continued decline is expected, it just comes down to how much. That will be the storyline to watch in 2025.