3 Teams That Should Try to Trade for Starling Marte
By Sean Facey
Starling Marte is on the trading block, and he adds an extra layer of intrigue to this offseason. He's a polished hitter who plays stellar defense on an annual basis in the outfield, something that every team in the league would love to have. But these three teams in particular need to do all they can to try and steal him away from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
3. Cincinnati Reds
Outside of sensational slugger Aristides Aquino, the Reds don't exactly have many quality outfielders heading into the 2020 season. Marte could be the perfect solution to their problems. His .793 career OPS would only improve playing in a hitter's park like Great American Ballpark, and his glove could provide some much-needed talent to an otherwise defensively starved team. It remains to be seen if GM Ben Cherington is willing to deal with his NL Central rivals, but the fit in Cinci is obvious for Marte.
2. New York Mets
Injuries always seem to be a problem for the Mets, but they've been particularly brutal in the outfield over the past few years. Yoenis Cespedes and Brandon Nimmo have both missed extended periods of time, and they haven't had the depth to survive their absences. Trading for Marte would not only help shore up their depth, but give them an All-Star caliber player capable of carrying the load should they go down with injuries.
1. Cleveland Indians
Offensive contribution from the outfield has been a major weakness for the Indians over the last few years, and while they've made steps to address it, they're still lacking just a bit. Enter Marte, whose 119 wRC+ would have been the second-highest mark among any player who patrolled the outfield in Cleveland with a minimum of 200 plate appearances in 2019. If the Indians are going to pull the trigger on a trade this offseason, then it absolutely needs to be for Marte.