The Kansas City Royals have signed outfielder Starling Marte of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to a one-year deal worth $1 million on Monday according to the Associated Press. As part of the contract, he could earn an additional $1 million in bonuses.
Marte is joining his sixth Major League Baseball franchise. He previously played eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2012 to 2019, one season with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2020, two seasons with the Miami Marlins in 2020 and 2021, one season with the Oakland Athletics in 2021, and the last four seasons from 2022 to 2025 with the New York Mets.
A two-time National League All-Star, Marte was honoured with the Pirates in 2016, and the Mets in 2022. In 2016, Marte batted .311 with nine home runs, 46 runs batted in and a career high in doubles (34). During 2022, he batted .292 with 16 home runs and 63 runs batted in.
Known for his speed, Marte led the Major Leagues with 47 stolen bases in 2021. During his career, Marte has 361 stolen bases. Interestingly, he is not ranked in the top 100 for stolen bases all-time. Marte has also been caught on the base paths 100 times.
In 2025, Marte batted .270 with nine home runs and 34 runs batted in with the Mets. During 98 games, 329 plate appearances and 293 at bats, he scored 37 runs and had 79 hits, 14 doubles, seven stolen bases, 22 walks, 120 total bases, one sacrifice bunt, four sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .335 and a slugging percentage of .410.
In Kansas City, it will be interesting to see how Marte is used. At this time it looks like he will be used in a pinch-hitting platoon role.
