Starling Marte, who completed his four-year, $78 million contract with the Mets following the 2025 season, is currently in talks with the Kansas City Royals about a potential contract for the 2026 campaign. As Marte approaches his age-37 season, these discussions could mark the next chapter of his Major League Baseball career, highlighting the significance of the Starling Marte Royals contract.
Marte’s Recent Career Challenges and Performance
Marte’s time with the Mets was largely impacted by various injuries, limiting him to just 396 games over four seasons. Persistent groin injuries, including surgeries on both sides after the 2022 season, failed to fully resolve the issues and recurred in 2023. Additional setbacks included a neck strain, migraines, and a bone bruise in his right knee. Due to these difficulties, the Mets assigned him a near full-time designated hitter (DH) role in 2025, minimizing his time on the field defensively.
Despite these health problems, Marte appeared in 12 outfield games last year. Given the Royals’ pressing need to strengthen their outfield, they could potentially utilize Marte more in defensive positions if a deal is finalized. The Royals recently bolstered their outfield roster by acquiring switch-hitter Isaac Collins and right-handed batter Lane Thomas during the winter, forming a foundation behind Marte’s possible addition.
Current Royals Outfield Composition and Marte’s Potential Role
Kansas City’s primary outfield setup appears to consist of Collins stationed in left field, center fielder Kyle Isbel focused on defense, and a platoon arrangement in right field involving Lane Thomas and left-handed hitter Jac Caglianone. Catching responsibilities are shared between veteran Salvador Perez and top prospect Carter Jensen, with the player not behind the plate likely receiving many DH opportunities.
Marte’s likely role on the Royals would be part-time, offering veteran experience and a reliable bat to a group facing uncertainties. In 2025, Caglianone struggled when stepping up to Major League pitching, and Thomas missed significant time due to injury. Thomas’ best showing came during his 28-home run season with the Nationals in 2023, but over the past four seasons, he has recorded a 98 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) across nearly 1,900 plate appearances. Collins impressed during his rookie year with the Brewers in 2025, but some concerns remain regarding his hard-contact rate, which may have been masked by an unusually high .326 batting average on balls in play (BABIP).
Marte’s Recent Offensive Output and Future Prospects
While Marte has not delivered elite offensive numbers since 2022, he posted a respectable batting line of .269/.331/.398 with 16 home runs over 699 plate appearances during the 2024-25 seasons. This performance equates to a 108 wRC+, indicating above-average offensive contributions. Marte continues to generate solid hard contact, though his power and advanced Statcast metrics have declined compared to earlier in his career.
As Marte approaches his 15th season in Major League Baseball, his ability to sustain this level of production remains uncertain. However, considering the recent struggles of Kansas City’s outfielders and Caglianone’s potential to develop further, the possible addition of Marte, along with Collins and Thomas, represents a likely improvement over previous seasons.
Financial Considerations and Team Budget Outlook
Marte’s new contract is expected to be a one-year deal, potentially worth several million dollars in guaranteed salary, supplemented by performance bonuses tied to plate appearances. The Royals’ current payroll estimate is approximately $149.2 million, a modest increase from the $139.8 million spent in 2025. This aligns with owner John Sherman’s previous remarks regarding maintaining a similar payroll level, which constrains the team’s flexibility when pursuing new roster additions.
Should Marte finalize an agreement with the Royals, the team would gain a seasoned hitter who can contribute both at the DH spot and occasionally in the outfield, providing depth and experience to a roster aiming to improve its offensive consistency in the upcoming season.
Me dicen en el “SalĂłn de los GarcĂa” que Starling Marte y los Reales de Kansas City han estado conversando sobre un posible acuerdo. Vamos a ver cuál será el siguiente capĂtulo de esa novela en “SalĂłn Network”.
Ya you know.— Yancen Pujols (@YancenPujols) February 27, 2026
