The New York Mets are dealing with a challenging financial dilemma, with a luxury tax payroll reaching a potential $324 million– the second highest in the league after the Los Angeles Dodgers. In an effort to cut costs and balance their roster effectively one obvious step to consider is trading off Starling Marte, who at 36 years old is no longer an everyday player. And his $78 million salary over four years including $20.75 million for 2025 has become a burden that the team can do without. But, what could be a fitting team for him?

The Mets have already attempted to move Marte. During the winter meetings in December, they held discussions with the Kansas City Royals about swapping Marte for reliever Hunter Harvey. The deal ultimately fell through, but New York was prepared to pay down part of Marte’s contract to make the trade happen. Since then, talks have stalled, but with Pete Alonso re-signing for two years, $54 million, the Mets are once again looking to shed payroll.

According to reporter Pat Ragazzo of the New York Mets on SI, the San Diego Padres have emerged as a potential landing spot. With Jurickson Profar leaving for the Atlanta Braves, the Padres need a starting left fielder. Rival executives believe a Marte-for-Wandy Peralta trade could benefit both sides. Veteran southpaw Peralta is returning from a season cut by injury but boasts an impressive history of success facing left-handed batters.

The Mets could consider paying a portion of Marte’s contract—potentially $10 million—in return for Peralta. This would allow them to add bullpen depth while saving roughly $10 million. With Edwin Díaz, A.J. Minter, and Ryne Stanek already in place, Peralta would further solidify their relief corps.

A larger deal involving Dylan Cease has also been floated, though sources indicate that San Diego’s asking price remains sky-high. The Mets have already engaged the Padres in talks for Cease and Michael King, but a Marte trade alone wouldn’t be enough to land Cease.

For now, the Mets seem poised to revisit trade discussions and unload Marte to free up payroll flexibility. If they can move him while securing bullpen help, it would be a win-win scenario for a team chasing contention in 2025.

Starling Marte’s declining role in Queens

Starling Marté used to play an important role in the Mets lineup but injuries and a shifting team roster have led to a decrease in his performance over time. The All-Star in 2022 has now gotten older, precisely 36 years old, and now no longer stands in the standout player zone. His exceptional speed has noticeably declined resulting in fewer stolen bases and limited range in the outfield.

In the likes of offensive performances, his stats took a hit as he went from 292/.347/.468, in 2022 to 248/.301/.324 in 2023 while playing 86 games a year. On the side, he’s been having a time in right field where both his ability to cover ground and arm power have taken a hit.

With Juan Soto, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil locked into starting roles, Marte is now an outfielder with a $20.75 million salary—an inefficient use of payroll for a team looking to stay competitive. While he still provides veteran leadership, his on-field value no longer justifies his contract, making him an obvious trade candidate before Opening Day.