MLB Trade Ratings: Mets Get Balance, Nats Get Return on Investment in Jesse Winker Deal

New York Mets get: FROM Jesse Winker

Washington Nationals get: RHP player Tyler Stuart

Andy McCullough: Five years ago, Jesse Winker irked Mets fans when he waved at a group of them gathered down the left-field line after making a game-ending sliding catch. Now, after half a decade as a minor-league antagonist in Citi Field, Winker will be saluting. And those fans will be glad he’s there, especially if Winker can keep pummeling right-handed pitchers.

The Mets needed a left-handed hitter to diversify their lineup, especially with outfielders Harrison Bader and Starling Marte on the injured list. Winker projects as a more productive player than their current two left-handed hitters on the bench, Ben Gamel and DJ Stewart. Winker, ranked No. 30 overall and No. 21 among available hitters on the The Athletics Top 50 Trade Deadline Big Board, has revived himself after a brutal 2023 campaign with Milwaukee. He’s hitting .257/.374/.419 with 11 homers. He’s not making particularly hard contact, but retains value with his ability to get on base (.374 overall and .390 against righties). The Mets already have a bunch of players who can hit the ball over the fence. Winker seems like someone who could get on base a fair amount early.

Mike Rizzo signed Winker last winter for a $2 million flyer. The deal worked out well for Washington. Winker played well for a team that flirted with the wild-card race early in the summer. When the Nationals fell out of the race, Rizzo traded Winker for Stuart, a very big man (he’s 6-foot-9) with a good slider. Despite his size, Stuart doesn’t produce elite fastball velocity, which limits his ceiling. Stuart, currently at Double A, spent his college career at Southern Mississippi as a reliever but put up solid numbers after transitioning to a starting role last season. The combination of his command and slider gives him a shot at the majors as a swingman, some scouts believe.

It’s not a huge return for the Nationals. But considering the size of their initial investment in Winker, it’s a solid acquisition for the Nationals.

Mets: B+
Subjects: B+

Chad Jennings: The Mets aren’t hopeless against right-handed pitching — a .729 OPS, 10th in the majors — but their lineup lacks left-handed balance. Jeff McNeil has struggled, Brett Baty has been demoted, and the team has DJ Stewart (.624 OPS) and Ben Gamel (.556 OPS) as left-handed corner bats. Winker is a clear upgrade, then, and brings some immediate balance to a roster that could use it. He’s not exactly an all-in move, but for a Mets team that has played its way back into contention, he’s a logical choice at a reasonable price.

In Stuart, the Nationals got a big left-hander who has worked as a starter but could end up being a swingman or fastball/slider reliever. It’s a decent return on investment after signing Winker for just $2 million this offseason.

Mets: B+
Subjects: B-

(Photo: Rich Schultz/Getty Images)