The Mets are bringing back outfielder/DH Jesse Winker, league sources told SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino, which the team announced Friday.
Winker returns to the Mets on a one-year, $8 million deal, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Acquired by the Mets ahead of the 2024 trade deadline in a deal with the Washington Nationals, Winker proved to be a great fit for New York, both on the field and in the clubhouse.
“We’re excited to bring Jesse back to the organization,” said President of Baseball Operations David Stearns. “Jesse had an immediate impact on the club last year, contributing during crucial moments both in the regular season and Postseason. We’re looking forward to adding his left-handed bat back in our lineup.”
Winker slashed .243/.318/.365 during the regular season, hitting a walk-off home run against Baltimore in late August. More importantly, Winker took his game to the next level in the postseason, slashing .318/.531/.636 with a second-deck home run off of Aaron Nola in Game 3 of the NLDS.
Winker, 31, slots in well as both a fourth outfielder and a left-handed DH option for the Mets, and bringing him back certainly provides a boost in the clubhouse.
Prior to this past season, Winker and the fans at Citi Field had their moments, with Winker waving goodbye to the crowd after hitting a game-winning home run as a member of the Cincinnati Reds in May 2019. Two days later, after making a sliding, game-winning catch, Winker taunted the crowd again, cementing himself as a Mets villain.
Now, Winker returns to Queens as a hero.