At some point between arriving at the trade deadline, hitting a memorable walk-off home run in August and smoking cigars after winning a couple of playoff rounds in October, Jesse Winker got hooked on the Mets.
“Honestly, everything,” the outfielder said Wednesday at his introductory news conference when asked what he liked most about his time in Queens. “The overall experience was incredible. How they treated my family was amazing and then everything baseball-wise was probably the most fun I’ve had. You know, being a part of something bigger than yourself is just, it’s really why you play this game.
“The whole experience was incredible and it’s kind of like addicting. You want it to happen again and again. So yeah, from the onset of the offseason I was wanting to come back.”
The Mets signed Winker, 31, to a one-year, $8 million contract last week that reportedly could jump to $9 million with bonuses.
Last year, Winker slashed .243/.318/.365 for New York in 129 plate appearances after coming over in a deal with the Nationals for minor league RHP Tyler Stuart. His full season slash line was .253/.360/.405 in 508 PAs. He hit 14 homers, the biggest coming on Aug. 21 to beat the Orioles. He was excellent in the postseason as well, going 7-for-22 with a home run and seven walks in 10 games.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Winker said he assumes his role will be similar to last season, but he is ready to do whatever is asked, even if it means playing first base. He learned the position two years ago – “I’m definitely comfortable” – while rehabbing an injury, did a little work there in practice last season, but has no major league experience there.
He likes what the Mets have done this winter.
“I think it’s been great,” he said. “I think there’s a ton to be excited about. Obviously, you know, getting Juan Soto is huge, right, and then everybody else. Frankie (Montas) and Clay Holmes … Sean (Manaea) it’s really cool to see. It’s a really talented team and it’s going to be fun to be part of.”
Soto “being left-handed is really cool for me personally,” Winker said. “Just to kind of be able to watch him go about his daily work and his day-in and day-out approach. Last year when I was with the Nationals I heard nothing but amazing things about him as a person and a player. So it’s gonna be cool, man. Getting to play alongside him and Frankie (Lindor) is going to be so much fun to watch and I’m looking forward to it.”
He wants to see the Mets take another step forward from last season.
“For sure, I think anytime you come that close to getting to the World Series you’re always going to want to give it another shot,” he said. “You’re always going to be thinking about that and you never know how close you’re gonna be again. It’s precious.”
