Starling Martes impending return has created questions for Carlos Mendoza and the Mets. Questions about the outfielders role. Questions about how the Mets will handle a very crowded outfield. Starling Marte watches from the dugout during the Mets 4-0 win over the Marlins on Aug. 17, 2024. Jason Szenes for the New York Post Questions about how they plan to value offense versus defense as the calendar nears September. One thing feels certain: Marte, expected to be activated on Sunday for the series finale against the Marlins after playing full games for Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday and Friday, is going to play. Explore More Hes a big part of this team. His bat, his speed, theres a lot. His presence on the lineup, the experience obviously, Mendoza said on Saturday before the at Citi Field. Hes been in this league for a long time and had a pretty good career and we mi sed him. The fact that were getting a healthy Marte here, especially where we are in the schedule, is going to be huge for our team. Mendoza said the Mets have a plan for how they want to work Marte in, but he didnt want to disclose it until speaking to Marte about it (he didnt arrive until midway through the win). Terence Davis Jr. Jersey The team also plans to ease him in, after such a long layoff of seven weeks. Mendoza did say theres a good chance Marte is in the lineup on Sunday. Marte, 35, was having a solid season offensively before going on the injured list with a right knee bone bruise on June 25. He was hitting .278/.328/.416 with a .745 OPS in 245 at-bats. He also had 12 stolen bases in as many opportunities. But his defense was shaky, the veteran producing an Outs Above Average of minus-9. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! At least against right-handers, its likely the Mets will have to move Brandon Nimmo into center field he has mostly played left field this year and surround him with Je se Winker and Marte, neither of whom are quality defenders. Harrison Bader, by far the Mets best outfielder, is likely only going to play against southpaws and as a late-game defensive replacement. It could also cut into the playing time of either Jeff McNeil or Jose Iglesias, since there wouldnt be room in one of the corner outfield spots for McNeil, whom the Mets have used out there against southpaws. Some of the aforementioned players will have to make sacrifices. Im pretty sure Ill have those conversations with some of the guys, Mendoza said. But at the end of the day, theyre going to get their at-bats, theyre going to get the playing time. Itll be a rotation, Im pretty sure. Serge Ibaka Jersey