Here are the paths the Mets could now follow at third base...
With Ronny Mauricio out, the Mets depth is becoming questionable yet again, but they do have options to choose from
What’s Up with the Mets? 🍎
INF Ronny Mauricio was diagnosed with a torn ACL after sustaining an injury to his knee during a winter league game on Sunday - he is expected to undergo surgery (story)
Rumor Mill 💨
The Mets are one of the teams interested in signing OF Michael A. Taylor (New York Post)
The Mets could pivot to Blake Snell if they are unable to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Athletic)
Yamamoto has already met with the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, Giants, and is expected to meet with the Blue Jays and Red Sox as well this week (MLB.com)
What the Mets could do at third base with Ronny Mauricio gone… ✍️
So, there’s bad news about the Mets as always, but there’s actually a little bit of good news.
The bad news is the Mets have suffered two significant injuries this offseason.
The good news is the market has been slow to develop and they still have an opportunity to shape their roster for the 2024 season.
The first blow came early in November when David Peterson underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip that will leave him out of action well into the season. And now comes the horrible news that Ronny Mauricio tore his ACL which is heartbreaking for the young infielder and puts the team’s already thin depth to the test even more.
If the season started today, Brett Baty would most likely be the starting third baseman with Mark Vientos and Joey Wendle serving as the backups. All three struggled mightily last season, although Vientos has been working out with Francisco Lindor this winter to improve his defense. We will see if that work pays off for Vientos, who really has nowhere to go but up defensively.
Earlier in the offseason, David Stearns suggested that third base would be filled internally while the team primarily pursues pitching and perhaps an outfielder. Technically, they still have options, but without Mauricio to compete for the job do their plans change or, more specifically, will they add to their list of needs this winter?
Both Justin Turner and Matt Chapman are free agents who could fill the third base vacancy. Both can still hit and Chapman specifically is still a plus defender. Chapman is younger than Turner but he strikes out a ton, whereas Turner is at the end of his career but can still hit and strikes out less than Chapman, but is a step back defensively. But Turner maybe more likely to take a starter-to-mentor role over Chapman at this stage of his career.
Plus, a homecoming with Turner might be kind of cool. He’s a great presence to have too.
They could also shift Jeff McNeil around, but he is really better suited at either second base or the outfield. He might be needed there anyway since, as it stands now, the outfield consists of DJ Stewart, Brandon Nimmo, and Starling Marte. Even if the Mets procure another outfielder, McNeil might be more valuable to this team in this role.
The Mets still have time to plug the holes in the roster before spring training begins, but this is a team coming off a 75-win season and their needs keep growing without even having played a game in three months. They need at least two more starting pitchers, almost an entire bullpen, an outfielder, and now perhaps a third baseman (there probably is no perhaps there, and maybe never was). While the free agent market is beginning to stir, they’re going to have to decide quickly how they choose to course-correct from this injury.
While there is still time, the pieces are beginning to fall and it’s starting to get a little late early.
Hot Stove 🔥
The Giants signed Korean OF Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year deal worth $113 million with an opt out after four years
Former Met Seth Lugo signed a three-year deal with the Royals worth $45 million
The Pirates signed Rowdy Tellez to a one-year deal on the same day they lose catcher Endy Rodríguez for the season after he suffered a UCL injury while playing in the Dominican Republic
Juan Soto met with the media for the first time as a Yankee but did not discuss any possible contract extension with the club
This is the key "They need at least two more starting pitchers, almost an entire bullpen, an outfielder, and now perhaps a third baseman (there probably is no perhaps there, and maybe never was). While the free agent market is beginning to stir, they’re going to have to decide quickly how they choose to course-correct from this injury." I would add a banger DH also. Stearns so far seems to be the Bloom of NY - hopefully he does not lose Alonso like Bloom lost Betts. HE MUST ACT IN THE FREE AGENT MARKET NOW !!
I like Chapman at third, McNeil at second