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Try it freePORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets new star right fielder homered again Friday night, part of a stellar spring training from Juan Soto.
Three years ago, that role was Starling Marte’s, fresh off signing a four-year, $78 million free agent deal, and he went out and played well before injuries began taking a toll on him early in the contract.
Now, after it appeared he would be headed out of Queens in a trade following the Soto signing, as well as the new deal for Jesse Winker, Marte has stuck with the Mets and unless something unexpected happens before Opening Day in less than two weeks, he still will be with them.
Starling Marte is pictured during the Mets’ Grapefruit League game on March 14. Imagn ImagesAnd with Brandon Nimmo still dealing with right knee soreness of his own, there could be more at-bats for Marte, at least in the early part of the season.
If Nimmo is unable to play — or play the outfield — it might force Winker and Marte into the outfield more often.
Marte continues to be OK with his reduced role, which seemed likely to limit him to being the DH against left-handed pitchers, with the lefty-swinging Winker starting versus righties, without the Nimmo injury.
Starling Marte is pictured on Feb. 28 during spring training. Corey Sipkin for the NY PostOn Friday, Marte served as the DH for the third time in five days — this time against Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy — since returning from right knee soreness and has so far looked good at the plate.
On this night, he went 1-for-3 to raise his Grapefruit League batting average to .375.
“I’m ready and willing and able to do whatever the team needs me to do,” Marte said through an interpreter before the 3-3 tie at Clover Park. “As a player, you can only control what you do on the field and I want to do my best.”
José Buttó will likely resume game action after recent concerns about groin tightness.
The right-hander was excluded from pitching in the Grapefruit League for the past week as a precaution, but manager Carlos Mendoza was pleased with the manner in which Buttó came through a pregame bullpen session.
For a second straight spring, Nimmo and his wife Chelsea organized a miniature golf outing as a team bonding activity.
According to Nimmo, there were Mets banners and cakes, and players brought their families. David Peterson, Reed Garrett and A.J. Minter brought their own putters.
Ryne Stanek said he appreciated the event because it allowed him to mingle with the entire team.
“Spring training is always tough because you are with your position group a lot more and not with the whole team as much because everything is separated based on position,” Stanek said.
“So events like that are great, especially for the new guys to get acclimated and accustomed to being around everybody.”






