File-Oakland Athletics Starling Marte rounded third base on his way to scoring with the Chicago White Sox during three innings of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., September 9, 2021. The New York Mets is a three-free agent deal that adds speedy center fielder Starling Marte to go with Mark Canha and all-star center fielder Eduardo Escoval. (AP Photo / Jeff Chiu, File)
New York (AP) — The New York Mets has strengthened its lineup with three free agent contracts, adding speedy center-fielder Starling Marte alongside Mark Canha and all-star infielder Eduardo Escobar.
Marté’s four-year contract is worth $ 78 million, according to people familiar with the deal. New York has also signed an agreement with veteran outfielder Kana, who can play even first baseman, and Escobar, who hit 28 home runs this season.
The contract was physically pending and not announced by the team, so the person spoke to the Associated Press on Saturday on anonymous terms.
This was New York’s first major move since Billy Eppler took over as general manager, promising to pursue expensive free agents on the first day and make a permanent World Series candidate.
Mets owner Steve Cohen’s spending will also occur after publicly criticizing pitcher Steven Matz’s representative, who has agreed to $ 44 million in a four-year contract with St. Louis.
“I’m not happy this morning. I haven’t seen any non-professional behavior as the player’s agent shows. I don’t think words or promises matter,” Cohen wrote on Twitter Wednesday.
Rob Martin, the pitcher’s agent, wrote in the Associated Press in text: “We handle things the right way, and so does Stephen.”
New York was 77-85 this season, making a strong start and then declining to third place in the National League East.
Marté, 33, played in Miami and Auckland this year, hitting 12 home runs in 120 games, 55 RBIs and .310 in Major League Baseball’s best 47 steals.
Marté made his big league debut in Pittsburgh in 2012. He is a .289 batter with 126 home runs, 46 triples, 502 RBIs and 296 steals in 10 years in Major League Baseball.
The 32-year-old Kana scored .231 with 17 home runs, 61 RBIs and 12 steals in 141 games against Auckland this year. He spent his first seven big league seasons at Athletics, hitting .244 with 89 home runs and 294 RBIs.
The 32-year-old Escobar became the first All-Star in 2021 and hit .253 with 90 RBIs and .786 OPS in Arizona and Milwaukee. Switch hitters have been solid offensive contributors and solid defenders on third base in the last four seasons, except for the slump during the 2020 season, when the pandemic was shortened.
Escobar spent most of his time on third base, but has experience in the infield. If the Mets don’t bring back free agent Javier Baez, his diversity could be the key to the Mets.
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AP baseball reporters Jake Sinner and Jay Cohen contributed to this report.
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Other APMLB: https: //apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Associated Press Source: Mets Adds $ 78 Million 4-Year Contract to CF Marte | WGN Radio 720
Source link Associated Press Source: Mets Adds $ 78 Million 4-Year Contract to CF Marte | WGN Radio 720
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