Jesse Winker: Everything you need to know

Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed Wednesday that Winker (back) will be shut down for the rest of the 2025 season, Manny Gomez of NJ.com reports. Winker landed on the Mets' injured list in mid-July due to back inflammation. He was pulled from his rehab assignment last week after suffering a setback, and the injury is severe enough for the 32-year-old to be officially sidelined for the rest of the 2025 campaign. Winker will shift his focus to being ready for the spring training and will enter the offseason as a free agent.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that Winker has been shut down from all activities and will likely miss the remainder of the season, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports. Winker has been on the injured list since mid-July due to back inflammation. He was given the green light to begin a rehab assignment last Wednesday but was shut down after going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in two games with Single-A St. Lucie. With time running out for the 32-year-old to return to Queens this year, it now appears that he'll shift his focus to getting ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. Winker is due to hit free agency this winter.

Winker (back) was cleared to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Single-A St. Lucie, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. Though no reports indicated that Winker had resumed baseball activities, the 32-year-old evidently made enough progress behind the scenes over the last few days for the Mets to clear him for a rehab assignment. He'll start at designated hitter for St. Lucie on Wednesday and likely remain in the minors for several more games in order to stockpile at-bats and prove that his back won't be an issue if he's needed for spot duty in the corner outfield. Though Winker could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list at some point in September, the Mets may not be willing to open up regular playing time for him, especially while the team is getting good results from its current DH duo of Mark Vientos and Starling Marte. Winker slashed an unremarkable .229/.309/.400 in 81 plate appearances in the majors prior to being shut down with the back issue.