Sterling Marte’s move to a new role wasn’t as seamless as he and the Mets wanted.
MARTE, who has reduced to part-time status for the first time in his career, shares DH duties with Jesse Winker, but has anemia .184/.273/.316 slash line with 44 plate appearances after a 3-0 victory in the Cardinals 3-0 on Saturday to 44-4.
After 12 seasons as a starter, the veteran outfielder has learned to deal with workload reductions.
“That’s something I work every day,” Marte told the Post through an interpreter. “There are no players who like to be in this type of role, but at the same time, I think this is how it was presented to me and I think I have to go out there to be successful with the plate.
The Mets tried to trade Martes last winter after Juan Soto arrived on a 15-year deal worth $765 million, but the deal never came to fruition.
The 36-year-old outfielder returned with the Mets and ended the final year of his contract, which has paid him $20 million this season with a job share with Turniker.
In each of the last two seasons, Marte has missed a fair amount of stretch due to injury. His best season with the Mets was 2022, producing .814 OPS for the team that won 101 games.
Marte was asked if he believed that earlier versions of himself could appear again.
“I think it’s all routine and based on the efforts you put in,” Marte said. “The success early in my career was because I played every day. If I could get more results and get more in that lineup, I think I could go back to being a player that used to be.”
On Saturday, manager Carlos Mendoza recalled a conversation with Marte during spring training, saying that transitioning to the outfielder was not easy.
Mendoza suggested Marte to speak to the team’s special advisor, Carlos Bertran, on the challenges players face from full-time to part-time.
“[Beltrán] I went through the same transition. ” Mendoza said. “When you get to that stage of your career, you become like part-time players, but they are very important players on the championship team, and it’s not easy.
“[Marte] He is an elite player, everyday player, and successful. Now he has to go every two days, get out of the bench and face a pretty good bailout. That’s not an easy role. But he’s fine. He adjusts well. He’ll get it and he’ll move most of this team forward. ”
Marte missed two months last season after rehabilitating a bone bruise in his right knee. His rep for spring training says that he felt physically strong now, although he was limited due to prolonged knee problems.
The former Gold Glove winner said he hopes to start occasionally in the outfield.
The Mets’ early success certainly helped Marte shape a positive view of the situation.
“I think we play an incredible brand of baseball,” he said. “We get out there every day and we help each other. We support each other as we prepare for that dugout and games. The pitching staff was incredible. They go out there and compete every day.
