The Mets are ready to get an outfielder Jesse Winker to the Nationals, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. As noted by Andrew Golden of The Washington Post, the deal is currently pending physical. The return referred to DC in exchange for Winker's services is unknown at this time.
Winker, 31 next month, was selected by the Reds in the first round in 2012 and posted excellent numbers in five seasons with the team. From 2017 to 2021, Winker slashed .288/.385/.504 with a 132 wRC+ as the team's regular lefty, though he was mostly protected from lefties during his years in Cincinnati. Even though he tends to stay against southpaws, however, Winker's ability to hook the right-handed ball earned him an All-Star nod in 2021 when he posted a 148 wRC+ in 485 trips to the plate. After the 2021 season, Winker found himself dealing with Seattle on the sidelines Eugenio Suarez in the blockbuster that sent Justin Dunn, Jake Fraleyagain Brandon Williamson in Cincinnati.
However, when he left the Reds, Winker began to struggle. A down season in Seattle in which he posted a wRC+ of 108 and a career-low slugging percentage led the Mariners to return Winker to the NL Central following the 2022 campaign, this time on the sidelines. Abraham Toro to get a second baseman Kolten Wong for the Brewers. Winker's time in Milwaukee was a rough one, as he battled a neck injury and struggled badly when he was healthy enough to take the field. While Winker was going at a solid 13.2% clip with the Brewers, he hit .198 while slugging one home run in 197 trips to the plate, leaving him with a 65 wRC+ that was 35% worse than the league average last year.
More to come…
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