The New York Mets are signing former Yankee outfielder Austin Slater to a major league deal. The news was delivered by Will Sammon of The Athletic earlier today, shortly following the Mets’ being swept by the Rockies.
After designating right-handed hitting Tommy Pham for assignment, the Mets are shuffling the cards and bringing in a lefty killer. Although in recent times he hasn’t fared well, any spark New York can find is a must. They’ve started the new year with a record of 9-18, besting even the lowly Rockies in their losing ways.
Austin Slater Needs to Provide Some Thump for These Dreary Mets
Slater, 33, is a Stanford product, drafted by San Francisco in the eighth round in 2022. More recently, he hitched a ride with the division rival Marlins early this season before he was eventually let go. In 23 at-bats, he hit an abysmal .174. Good for an OPS+ of 33 (67% below league average). The Mets will be hopeful he can recapture his Giants form when he was a reliable bat from 2019 to 2022.
Slater thrived in San Francisco’s platoon-heavy dynamic. In his career, the righties have had their way with him, holding his sputtering stick to a measly .642 OPS. When a southpaw opposes Slater, the script flips. His OPS against lefties in over 700 at-bats is .777. If Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is going to maximize his newest asset, he’ll need to play to his strengths.
The Mets are doing a one-for-one swap of Pham for Slater. His role off the bench will be to dominate left-handers and provide an offensive boost in Queens. With such a horrid start, the Mets are past relying on internal options.
The Mets’ Offense is Broken
New York’s offense has been rather pitiful to start 2026. The Mets rank 27th in team batting average and 26th in home runs. If you aren’t going to get hits and you aren’t going to slug, you better be able to pitch it.
The Mets are better on the mound, but nothing special. Its staff is middle of the road in ERA and seventh in baseball at racking up Ks. When you dive into the team’s production, it becomes rather apparent why they suffered such a dreadful losing streak.
New York’s Outfield is Missing a Familiar Face
New York’s outfield has been specifically alarming. Rookie Carson Benge is struggling to find his footing in The Show, and Tyrone Taylor has proven he is not a long-term solution. Slater will have to earn his playing time in Queens, but it’s a good sign the Mets are thumbing through options. This is coming on the heels of the Mets trading away longtime outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who has been a revelation for the Texas Rangers. Through his first 109 at-bats with Texas, Nimmo is sporting an OPS+ of 144. His counterpart in the deal, Marcus Semien, is stalling thus far.
No team has ever made the postseason after losing 12 consecutive regular-season games. The odds are pitted against these mighty Mets. If Queens is to be represented come October baseball, they’ll need a bulldog mentality and plenty of luck.
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