The Mets are keen to commerce from their main league infield as they search for assist elsewhere on the roster, studies Will Sammon of The Athletic. Clearly, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso aren’t going anyplace. Nor are they more likely to commerce Jeff McNeil, who’s having a robust season as a multi-positional contributor. If a commerce comes collectively, it’d contain one among their 4 youthful huge league infielders: Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos or Luisangel Acuña.
These gamers have discovered themselves in commerce rumors at the very least relationship again to final offseason. The 25-year-old Baty has lengthy appeared the likeliest to maneuver, as the previous prime prospect has not turn into the offensive participant that many evaluators envisioned. The lefty hitter owns a .236/.292/.419 batting line throughout 251 plate appearances this season. Whereas these are the perfect numbers of his profession, they’re basically league common. Baty has gotten there in relatively streaky style. He had a horrible April that led the Mets to briefly demote him again to Triple-A as soon as McNeil returned from a season-opening injured record stint. Baty hit nicely upon being recalled in Might, tanked in June, and is again to swinging the bat nicely of late.
A pure third baseman, Baty has added second base to his defensive repertoire this season. He has graded as a league common second baseman with barely above-average marks on the sizzling nook in a small pattern. Baty has been a helpful participant general, however he nonetheless hasn’t established himself as a first-division common. He gained’t attain arbitration eligibility for an additional 12 months after this one and is underneath membership management by means of the 2029 season.
Vientos, additionally 25, appeared to ascertain himself as a core piece final season. He linked on 27 homers with a superb .266/.322/.516 slash line within the common season. Vientos hit .327 and added 5 extra longballs in 13 playoff video games. He hasn’t gotten going offensively at any level this 12 months. The righty hitter has slumped to a .221/.275/.352 displaying in 265 plate appearances. Vientos’ common exit velocity and laborious contact fee aren’t a lot totally different than they had been final season, however his bat pace is down a tick and his precise energy manufacturing has plummeted.
That’s notably regarding for a participant who doesn’t have a lot in his sport to fall again upon. Vientos isn’t an amazing athlete and he’s a nicely below-average defensive third baseman. He ought to ideally be at first base, however Alonso’s presence implies that gained’t occur for at the very least the remainder of this season (and probably past if the Mets re-sign Alonso in free company once more). He’s working primarily as a chosen hitter whereas Jesse Winker is battling again issues. Vientos is controllable for an additional 4 seasons, so buying and selling him now can be a sell-low transfer, however he’s out of minor league choices and never offering a lot worth in the mean time.
Mauricio, a toolsy switch-hitter with a really aggressive strategy, is in his first season again from an ACL tear. He’s hitting .218/.288/.376 with 4 homers in 31 huge league contests. The 6’4″ infielder is working as the first third baseman with Baty largely on the keystone. The 24-year-old Mauricio would exhaust his remaining possibility 12 months if he spends one other three days in Triple-A this season. He’s controllable for at the very least 4 extra seasons.
Acuña, 23, has been a light-hitting utility participant. He’s hitting .240/.293/.286 with no house run in 169 journeys to the plate. His .260/.303/.356 slash line in 640 profession Triple-A plate appearances isn’t a lot better. He’s the perfect defender of this group who has solely moved off shortstop in deference to Lindor. Possibly one other workforce feels there’s sufficient defensive means that Acuña could possibly be a low-end common at shortstop. He has an possibility remaining however — much like Mauricio — would exhaust it if he spends one other two days in Triple-A this 12 months. That in all probability performed into the workforce’s resolution to recall him simply earlier than the All-Star Break. He’s solely actually getting alternatives towards left-handed pitching, so his present utilization doesn’t give him a lot alternative to enhance on the plate.
With the attainable exception of Baty, every of those gamers in all probability has much less commerce worth than they’d have had over the winter. There’d nonetheless nonetheless be groups eager about all of them, however they’re not more likely to headline a deal for an influence participant. Sammon writes that the Mets are usually prioritizing bullpen upgrades, and it’d hardly be a shock if somebody from this group intrigued a workforce just like the Pirates (David Bednar, Dennis Santana) or Rockies (Jake Chook) that’s buying aid pitching and in want of short-term offensive assist.
