Ex-Reds slugger remains bitter toward NL Central foe, but not for reasons you think

Jesse Winker has always embraced the villain role. Who could forget Winker waving goodbye to the fans in attendance at Citi Field during the 2019 season after making a sliding catch to end the game against the New York Mets? Winker ran back towards the dugout, all the while saying goodbye to the fans in the Big Apple.

Oddly enough, Winker has become a key piece for this year's Mets team. Acquired at the MLB trade deadline from the Washington Nationals, Winker has platooned alongside J.D. Martinez as the Mets' DH and hit a clutch home run during Game 3 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies to help put New York up 2-1 with a chance to close out the series.

But while Winker's actions on the field during Tuesday's contest were entertaining, his comments after the game will surely raise some eyebrows. "I’ll hate the city of Milwaukee forever," Winker said. That's a mighty strong statement. And while there are certainly some Reds fans who can get behind the idea of despising their NL Central rival, Winker's reasons for detesting Milwaukee are not necessarily rooted to his ties in Cincinnati.

Ex-Reds All-Star Jesse Winker still harbors bitterness towards Brewers fans

Winker was drafted by the Reds and spent the first-part of his career in the Queen City. But when the Reds front office began to tear things down ahead of the 2022 season, Winker was one of the casualties. Along with Eugenio Suárez, Winker was shipped to the Seattle Mariners. He spent a year in the Pacific Northwest, but clashed with the coaching staff and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers during the following offseason.

Winker's stint with the Brewers is one that he, and the Milwaukee fanbase, would just as soon forget. Winker hit just .199/.320./247 and played in only 61 games due to knee and back injuries. As fans are prone to do, when a player's production doesn't match his salary — Winker was making $8 million in 2023 — they let him know it. Winker was boo'd during his Brewers' tenure, and the fans at American Family Field really let him have it last October when he went 0-for-2 during the postseason.

But it appears as though the former Reds outfielder will get the last laugh. Winker and Mets ruined the Brewers' aspirations this postseason by putting up four runs during the ninth inning of Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series and defeating Milwaukee 4-2. Winker added an exclamation point to the Mets' win by spiking his helmet on home plate after scoring late in the game.

Winker's legacy in Cincinnati isn't exactly rosy, but most Reds fans are probably more or less indifferent toward the former All-Star. However, when Winker visits Milwaukee, he's going to hear boos like he's never heard before; which is saying something considering how badly he was chastised during last year's playoff run with the Brewers.

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