Starling Marte Joins Royals After Successful Stint with Mets

Starling Marte is embarking on a new chapter in his career, having agreed to a major league contract with the Kansas City Royals. The news was reported by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, though the terms of the deal remain unclear as it is still pending a physical examination.

The 37-year-old outfielder spent the last four seasons with the New York Mets, where he signed a lucrative four-year, $78 million contract prior to the 2022 season. That inaugural year with the Mets turned out to be his most fruitful, as he posted impressive numbers, slashing .292/.347/.468 with 16 home runs and earning a spot on the National League All-Star team.

However, injuries plagued Marte in the subsequent years, limiting him to just 278 games and resulting in a .694 OPS over the final three seasons of his contract. Despite these setbacks, he played a pivotal role in the Mets’ playoff run in 2024, delivering three hits in the wild-card round against the Brewers, including a crucial RBI single in the ninth inning of the decisive game.

In the NLCS against the Dodgers, Marte continued to shine, hitting .333 over six games with nine hits, four doubles, and four RBIs, solidifying his reputation as one of the team’s most reliable hitters during the postseason.

Even as his role evolved to part-time duty in 2025, primarily as a designated hitter, Marte managed a 111 OPS+, his best mark since 2022. Beyond his on-field contributions, Marte became a respected leader in the Mets’ clubhouse. Teammate Juan Soto praised his influence, stating, “He’s literally the leader of this team — I feel like he’s actually the captain of this team.” Soto highlighted Marte’s ability to unite the players, saying, “He’s bringing the energy that we need.”

Now, as he joins a Royals team that finished 82-80 last season after a playoff appearance, Marte will look to bolster a lineup that struggled in the designated hitter position, which recorded a .615 OPS in 2025. His experience and leadership will undoubtedly be invaluable as Kansas City aims to build on their recent successes.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.