Starling Marte close to a deal with the Royals
According to recent reports, the Kansas City Royals are close to finalizing a contract agreement with Dominican outfielder Starling Marte.
The organization has not yet made the news official.
At 37 years old, Marte arrives after completing his 14th season in the Major Leagues, showing a performance that recalled his best years.
In 2025, wearing the New York Mets jersey, he participated in 98 games, with a batting average of .270, an on-base percentage of .335, and a slugging percentage of .410, for an OPS of .745.
His offensive performance exceeded the league average, evidenced by an OPS+ of 111, being his most productive performance since 2022, the year he was selected for the All-Star Game and received votes for the Most Valuable Player award.
Between June 1st and the end of the 2025 season, the Dominican player increased his offensive performance, batting .289 with an OPS of .766, showing a notable improvement after a season start without a defined role.
During the previous offseason, the Mets considered the possibility of trading Marte after the arrival of Juan Soto, although no trade ultimately materialized. Faced with this situation, the veteran assumed a more limited role, maintaining his professionalism.
At this stage of his career, Marte is primarily seen as a designated hitter. Last season, he only played 12 games in the outfield.
Although he has been recognized as one of the fastest runners in baseball, his stolen base production has decreased. In 2025, he achieved seven steals, raising his total to 361, which keeps him as the active leader in this department in the Major Leagues.
