The chances of the Mets finishing the winter with a big splash were slim in recent weeks, and they may have disappeared altogether with Monday’s trade that sent Starling Marte from the Pirates to the Diamondbacks.
Marte was strong on the Mets’ radar at the winter meetings, but discussions with the Pirates had dissipated in recent weeks. In December, the teams had discussed a deal that likely would have included Brandon Nimmo.
The Mets backed off, according to sources at the time, because they didn’t believe they would be receiving equal value for Nimmo, a first-year arbitration eligible player who will earn $2.