Outfielder Starling Marte has agreed to a one-year contract with the Royals. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Marte, 37, spent the last four seasons with the Mets. Injuries limited his appearances in 2025, but he still posted a respectable .270/.335/.410 slash with 9 home runs and 34 RBIs in 98 games, for a 110 OPS+. In his 14-season career, Marte has had only three seasons with a sub-100 OPS+ (league average), each injury-shortened.
Durability has been Marte's main issue since his days with the Pirates, only twice playing more than 100 games since he was traded to the Diamondbacks in Ben Cherington's first deal as general manager in January 2020.
Marte is the current leader among all active MLB players in triples (55) and stolen bases (361), despite averaging just 109 games per season over his career.
My take: What he could have been had he been healthy. An electric and powerful player, he just can't stay in the lineup. Still gives a good at-bat, though, and manages to produce and affect games with his bat speed and feet. Seems a perfect fit for the type of ball the Royals play, too.
THE ASYLUM
A Royal Marte par-tay
Outfielder Starling Marte has agreed to a one-year contract with the Royals. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Marte, 37, spent the last four seasons with the Mets. Injuries limited his appearances in 2025, but he still posted a respectable .270/.335/.410 slash with 9 home runs and 34 RBIs in 98 games, for a 110 OPS+. In his 14-season career, Marte has had only three seasons with a sub-100 OPS+ (league average), each injury-shortened.
Durability has been Marte's main issue since his days with the Pirates, only twice playing more than 100 games since he was traded to the Diamondbacks in Ben Cherington's first deal as general manager in January 2020.
Marte is the current leader among all active MLB players in triples (55) and stolen bases (361), despite averaging just 109 games per season over his career.
My take: What he could have been had he been healthy. An electric and powerful player, he just can't stay in the lineup. Still gives a good at-bat, though, and manages to produce and affect games with his bat speed and feet. Seems a perfect fit for the type of ball the Royals play, too.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits!
We’d love to have you!