Brandon Nimmo returns to full action, and the Mets all of a sudden have a lot of roster decisions to make
The Mets have to figure out third base, their DH platoon and how their bullpen will look six days from now in Miami
What’s Up with the Mets? 🌴
The Mets and Braves played to a 2-2 tie yesterday afternoon in North Port (Box)
Darin Ruf had a double in the game in a 1-for-2 day at the plate (MLB.com)
New York had only three hits in the game with Danny Mendick and Tomás Nido supplying the other two
Mike Vasil - one of the club’s young pitching prospects - struck out three over three innings
MLB released a new commercial starring Daniel Vogelbach and Buck Showalter (Watch)
On the backfields in Port St. Lucie, Adam Ottavino and David Robertson both pitched an inning each
Reliever Tommy Hunter has an opt out in his contract on Saturday that he could exercise if the Mets don’t add him to the 40-man roster
Injury Updates 🏥
CF Brandon Nimmo (knee and ankle sprain) took five AB’s and ran out a triple on the back fields in Port St. Lucie
Today’s Game 🦩
Game 2️⃣8️⃣ of 3️⃣0️⃣
Match-up: Mets at Rays
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Starters: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Luis Patino
When: 1:05 PM EDT
Where to Watch: MLB.tv
Judgement Day is coming for decisions the Mets have been putting off✍🏻
The Mets entered spring training in the fortuitous position of having very few, if any spots on their roster up for competition. Thanks to the performance of some of their top prospects, underperformance and some injuries around the depth chart, it didn’t take long for the narrative to begin to change.
New York’s second ranked prospect, third baseman Brett Baty, has opened more eyes than anyone this spring, slashing .333/.469/.436 in 39 spring at-bats, while most importantly showing significant defensive improvement at the hot corner, something Mets GM Billy Eppler and manager Buck Showalter have emphasized as a requirement for any of their prospects to make the team. The Mets were prepared to begin the season with incumbent Eduardo Escobar as their everyday third baseman and Baty in Triple-A, which might still happen, but the decision is no longer as cut and dry as it was five weeks ago, especially given Escobar’s spring struggles.
Then there’s the DH spot where right-handed hitting Darin Ruf, whose roster spot was already tenuous, hasn’t done himself any favors, hitting just .160 in 25 spring training at-bats. His left-handed platoon partner, Daniel Vogelbach, hasn’t performed much better, slashing just .229/.222/.286, although Vogelbach still seems primed to make the roster by default. The situation has been especially exacerbated by the standout performance of Mark Vientos, who has gotten a ton of playing time this spring with most of the team’s infielders away at the World Baseball Classic for a couple of weeks. In 22 games New York’s second round pick from the 2017 draft has hit .283 with seven extra-base hits, showing off his athleticism while playing both corner infield positions on a regular basis over the course of the month.
Is Vientos forcing the Mets hand now?
The easiest solution would be to cut Ruf and have Vientos break camp as the right-handed portion of the Mets DH platoon, and leave open an opportunity for Vientos to win the job outright. But the decision can also be directly tied to the situation at third base, as Escobar is a much better right-handed hitter and could slide into a utility/part time DH role if Baty is actually going to start every day (which he has to if he makes the team).
Then there’s the bullpen, where thanks to the unfortunate injury to Edwin Díaz, an extra opening is now available. We know David Robertston, Drew Smith, Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley will be the team’s top four relievers.
Veteran Tommy Hunter has an opt out in his contract this weekend, but has pitched very well this spring. He is also a favorite of his manager, who he pitched for during his time in Baltimore. That could translate into him having a very good shot at making the team. The same can be said for Stephen Nogosek, who is out of options and John Curtiss who has been excellent thus far this spring as he attempts his comeback from Tommy John Surgery.
That leaves one spot left and a handful of arms in the mix.
Jeff Brigham, whom the Mets acquired from Miami in November is firmly in the mix, as are several non-roster invites like Jimmy Yacabonis, T.J. McFarland, and Dennis Santana. Of course, the club could choose to instead carry someone like Elieser Hernandez or Joey Lucchesi to serve as a long man, in the same role Trevor Williams admirably filled a year ago. But Lucchesi has already been optioned to Triple-A and Hernandez has hardly distinguished himself in a variety of roles this spring, whereas McFarland can fill a need from the left side and both Yacabonis and Brigham also seeming like viable candidates at this time as well.
Opening Day is in just six days and there are only three spring games remaining, meaning New York must figure all of this all out in short order. Again, hardly any of this seemed like it was even going to even be on the table for Showalter and Eppler a month ago. But the game has proved once again how fragile it can be for players.
And so, here we are.
Around the League 🚩
Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins suffered a torn ACL and will likely miss all of the 2023 season (The Athletic)
Veteran Luke Voit has an available opt out today in his contract with the Brewers—something to pay attention to with the sudden first base opening in Philly
The Cubs traded minor league infielder Esteban Quiroz to the Phillies (Phillies)
Atlanta optioned righty Michael Soroka to minor league camp (Braves)
Mets legend Jed Lowrie announced his retirement (instagram)
Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright suffered a groin injury in the weight room and will open the season on the IL (St. Louis Post Dispatch)
Mets 'Legend" Jed Lowrie - LOL
Vogelbach must still at least till he has a stolen base.