Mets continue to add pieces, acquire Jesse Winker from Nationals: reports

The New York Mets landed the left-handed batter that they had been wanting.

The Mets have reached an agreement to acquire outfielder Jesse Winker in a trade with the Washington Nationals, according to published reports. The Nationals’ return in the deal, which was first reported by ESPN, is unknown.

Winker ranked No. 30 overall and No. 21 among the available bats on The Athletic’s Top 50 Trade Deadline Big Board. He’s hitting .257./.374/.419 with 11 homers.

The Mets had checked in with multiple teams on left-handed batters, as The Athletic previously reported, because it was an area that needed improvement. With right fielder Starling Marte (knee) sidelined, the Mets have leaned more heavily on a combination of Jeff McNeil, Tyrone Taylor and DJ Stewart in right field. Stewart, the club’s primary left-handed bat off the bench, has struggled all season with a .176/.332/304 slash line and five homers through 184 plate appearances.

Winker has had a fun back-and-forth relationship with Mets fans dating back to his days with the Cincinnati Reds, when he taunted a section of the crowd after making a game-ending catch. He’s been booed at Citi Field ever since, though he said back in 2022 that he appreciated the passion of the Mets fan base and loved playing in Queens.

Newest Met Jesse Winker has a long history with Mets fans that started in 2019 because he waved goodbye to them after this game-ending play pic.twitter.com/QbtQTtE4h2

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 28, 2024

A pending free agent, Winker is owed $700,000 for the remainder of the season. He was acquired by the rebuilding Nationals in hopes of being flipped, just as they’d successfully done with Kyle Schwarber two years ago and Jeimer Candelario last year. Now, the Nationals will get something in return for a veteran platoon bat in Winker.

This story will be updated.

(Top photo of Jesse Winker: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)