In an unexpected twist on Tuesday, the New York Mets bolstered their outfield by acquiring defensive standout Star from the Tampa Bay Rays. While it wasn’t Juan Soto (at least not yet), the Mets sent relief pitching prospect Eric Orze to Tampa in the deal.
Mets land Him from the Rays
He isn’t known for his hitting, as shown by his career 89 wRC+. However, he offers decent power (with a career-high 25 home runs in 2023 and 18 last season), speed, and standout defense that can shift the course of a game.
The Mets’ decision to acquire He makes sense as a replacement for Harrison Bader. He brings comparable defense and speed, shares similar offensive limitations, but offers a bit more power at a much lower cost. The former Rays outfielder is projected to earn around $2.5 million in 2025 and remains under team control through 2027.
Siri will help the Mets buy some time
As the Mets’ fourth or fifth outfielder, depending on how the offseason unfolds, Siri is an excellent fit. He brings the team a reliable 2-WAR player, with performances of 1.8, 2.6, and 1.9 WAR over the past three seasons, and provides Gold Glove-caliber defense at a premium position—center field. Siri also buys the Mets valuable time to further develop top prospects Drew Gilbert and Jett Williams, who may still need additional seasoning in Triple-A.
Defensively, Siri truly stands out. He ended the 2024 season with 12 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 16 Outs Above Average (OAA), numbers that confirm his exceptional abilities in the field. In this case, the metrics align perfectly with what’s visible on the field—Siri is as good as advertised.
Meanwhile, Orze offers the Rays an MLB-ready reliever ready to make an impact. He demonstrated his potential last year with a 2.92 ERA in 61.2 Triple-A innings, striking out 84 batters. Although he only pitched 1.2 innings at the major league level, his strong minor league performance suggests he’s capable of taking on a meaningful role.
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