If the Mets are going to enhance their run prevention subsequent season, they need to begin with third base.
Actually, the problem of getting a glut of infielders is extra than simply run prevention. It prevented the Mets from having a balanced roster and took defensive reps and at-bats away from gamers who aren’t developed sufficient to go with out them.
It’s a great downside to have, nevertheless it’s one which has been coming for just a few years when Brett Baty and Mark Vientos made the leap to the massive leagues across the identical time. Now, the Mets have to determine what to do with Baty, Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuña and prime infield prospect Jett Williams. With shortstop Francisco Lindor and second baseman Jeff McNeil nonetheless below contract subsequent season, there are not any simple solutions.
Already, there may be hypothesis that McNeil could possibly be traded this winter. The Mets additionally listened to affords on Vientos on the commerce deadline. None of that is shocking given the workforce’s want for pitching. President of baseball operations David Stearns doesn’t like signing pitchers over age 30 to long-term contracts, and Vientos and McNeil might each web stable pitching returns in trades.
Nonetheless, if run prevention is what the Mets are prioritizing, then they might find yourself holding on to McNeil. Whereas he is probably not profitable batting titles anymore, he had a robust 12 months on the plate with a .746 OPS, and was the Mets’ finest defender at second base.
The metrics haven’t pointed to any main defensive drop-off for McNeil, although at 33, there may be some pure diminishing of his vary. His worth lies in his capability to play a stable second base, plus all three outfield positions and hit wherever within the lineup. He’s not an on a regular basis middle fielder, as we noticed within the second half of the season when just a few large errors proved pricey, however transferring on from McNeil won’t be the most effective concept if the Mets wish to protect the positional flexibility Stearns likes.
Buying and selling McNeil would imply utilizing Baty as the first second baseman. He performed nicely there in 2025, splitting time with Vientos and Mauricio at third. However by the top of the 12 months, he had grow to be the workforce’s finest third baseman, and the Mets had been avoiding taking part in Vientos on the scorching nook. Vientos completed the season with -7 OAA at third, just like final season (-6).
The 25-year-old outplayed Baty in 2024, however in 2025, he regressed on either side of the ball whereas Baty lastly had a breakout season, hitting .254 with 18 dwelling runs, 50 RBI, eight stolen bases and a .748 OPS, . His line was practically equivalent to McNeill’s, one other left-handed hitter. Vientos, then again, hit .233 with 17 dwelling runs, 10 fewer than final season with 9 extra plate appearances.
The place do Mauricio and Acuña come into the equation? With out constant taking part in time, it was powerful for both of the Mets’ rising infield prospects to get any type of consistency on the plate or within the subject. Vientos and Baty had been always rotating with them, making a troublesome scenario for all concerned. When not within the lineup, the growing infielders took additional reps with the coaches to imitate a gameday workload, however they will solely achieve this a lot with out taking part in in video games.
Mauricio, a switch-hitter, has significantly extra energy in his bat than Acuña, who hasn’t proven a lot of a capability to hit big-league pitching but. Nonetheless, his third base protection was sturdy, for essentially the most half, which must be encouraging to the Mets after lacking 2024 with a knee damage he suffered taking part in in winter ball in 2023.
The Mets allowed him to play winter ball as a result of they wished him to get reps at third base. The group was too sluggish to maneuver him off shortstop, however that was earlier than Stearns was in cost.
Williams cut up the season in Double-A and Triple-A, selecting up proper the place he left off earlier than accidents price him time in 2024. He posted an .828 OPS between two ranges at solely 21 years outdated this season, seeing essentially the most time at shortstop. He isn’t an element within the third base competitors, however yet one more center infielder additional complicates the image.
The one answer is to commerce one, if no more of these infielders. They should persist with one at third, and have a back-up possibility as a substitute of a multi-player rotation.
If the Mets wish to take a giant swing, they might attempt to signal Alex Bregman, who is anticipated to decide out of his contract with the Boston Crimson Sox. He’s anticipated to hunt a contract within the vary of $200 for 5 years. A 31-year-old veteran who gained two World Collection with the Houston Astros, would lastly stabilize a place that hasn’t had any stability. He produces runs and he has lengthy been thought of a robust clubhouse presence.
With Bregman, the Mets might use Baty at second and McNeil as a utility man. With Brandon Nimmo’s declining protection in left subject, it might work.
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has expressed curiosity in being traded to the Mets. The curiosity wasn’t mutual final 12 months, however issues change after seasons just like the one the Mets simply had. Different choices might emerge as the recent range season begins.
With so many inner choices, you’d assume the Mets would have found out a solution by now. However there haven’t been any solutions since David Wright was there a decade in the past.
