Vientos's future as a Met is largely dependent on what they do with Alonso. If they resign Pete, they'll trade Vientos. If not, he'll have a chance to redeem himself as a first baseman/DH. As for explaining his dismal 2025 season, my assertion was that he had let success go to his head. During the winter, he was seen celebrating at MSG, sporting frosted tips and bling, more befitting of his alter ego, "Swaggy V", and I immediately thought he had become a little full of himself. He followed that by cruising through spring training as the incumbent third baseman and wasn't really ready to go, from a mental standpoint, when the bell rang. As the season went on, frustration set in and he dug himself deeper and deeper into a lost season. My hope is that this experience humbled him and he'll work hard to regain his status and the trust of the organization.
As far as Senga is concerned, I think the problem is in the six inches between his ears! I can't recall another Japanese pitcher who has been as coddled as Senga, during his time with the Mets. I think they should cut bait and trade him to the Dodgers. They can afford to allow him to spend half of the season on Injured List.
Totally agree on Vientos. That's a great breakdown on how his season got away from him.
Agreed on Senga, too. The Dodgers would be a great destination for him, and we'd get a lot in return. In fact, all the West Coast teams would have something to offer us, and in all likelihood, that's where Senga would want to go.
If I had to choose between dumping Vientos or Senga, I’d move on from Vientos. He’s not locked into a contract like Senga and shows no sign of developing into a reliable contact hitter anytime soon.
As for Senga—who knows? Maybe some rest over the winter will help him recover his strength. What he really needs is better conditioning to avoid the nagging injuries that keep setting him back.
Anyone dreaming Vientos can even be a first baseman is delusional. He made errors when he was playing there the couple times they put Pete at DH. Mebbe he got into his head but the Mets don’t have another season to let him figure it out. I’d see what he has in spring training and if he shits the bed there try and get a bag of balls before the season starts for him and if not cut bait and see if he clears wavers and stick him in AAA. HE IS UNPLAYABLE IN THE FIELD!!! Send Senga to the west coast. The Dodgers or Giants or Padres. Let them try and fix him. The Mets know they can’t count on him. Why go into the season with a problem you need to cross your fingers with already? He isn’t a Stearns signing so he isn’t going to be loyal to that deal. This team needs change. It needs a stud at the top of the rotation. You cannot go into next season with the same rotation plus McClean and believe it’s fixed. Stearns needs to be making moves during the Hot Stove. This is going to be the last season of baseball for a long time. The lockout happens Dec. 1,2026.
It's going to be tough to move Senga, although he might agree to go to a West Coast team. If he stays, he can't go to the bullpen. He's much, much too delicate for that kind of role.
Which leaves us with a problem. A simple solution would be for Senga to be able to fill a slot in a five-man rotation and let's get on with it: McLean, Manaea, Senga, Peterson, Holmes looks pretty darn good if everyone pitches up to snuff.
But as David Stearns said, it's foolish to pencil Senga in for 30 starts, and that's what it would take to make a five-man work. It's basically 32 starts a man across the board. Can he handle it?
The world wonders.
As to Vientos, I wouldn't quite give up on him yet. His sophomore jinx was as brutal as it gets, and I think it's clear Baty is the starter at third now — and that includes against left-handed pitching. But with fresh eyes on the hitting now, his problems might be fixable.
But he's going to need a pretty massive Spring Training, I think. Or go play some winter ball and show he can get it together.
If they Mets can move Senga they should. I felt this way from the moment I heard they were re-arranging everything around him so he can pitch while comfortable. As the author wrote, this year follows what happens when you structure your team around the needs of one person. And of course the Mets are now looking to Japan for hitters, who while not as restricting, have their own drawbacks in switching leagues.
Well, I guess you don't have Senga posters on your wall. I think it's unfair to paint him as a prima donna: "...they catered to every need he had in order to make him feel more comfortable ..." Has the guy made public comments suggesting he's a brat? I'll add that before the injury this year his performance wasn't "pretty good", it was Cy Young caliber. Quite injury prone, agreed, and planning a rotation around him bit them. I wouldn't be so eager to cut him loose. They'd get little in a trade and I'd be inclined to give him a chance to recapture his mojo, rather like Hensley if he can be signed for relatively cheap.
Vientos's future as a Met is largely dependent on what they do with Alonso. If they resign Pete, they'll trade Vientos. If not, he'll have a chance to redeem himself as a first baseman/DH. As for explaining his dismal 2025 season, my assertion was that he had let success go to his head. During the winter, he was seen celebrating at MSG, sporting frosted tips and bling, more befitting of his alter ego, "Swaggy V", and I immediately thought he had become a little full of himself. He followed that by cruising through spring training as the incumbent third baseman and wasn't really ready to go, from a mental standpoint, when the bell rang. As the season went on, frustration set in and he dug himself deeper and deeper into a lost season. My hope is that this experience humbled him and he'll work hard to regain his status and the trust of the organization.
As far as Senga is concerned, I think the problem is in the six inches between his ears! I can't recall another Japanese pitcher who has been as coddled as Senga, during his time with the Mets. I think they should cut bait and trade him to the Dodgers. They can afford to allow him to spend half of the season on Injured List.
Totally agree on Vientos. That's a great breakdown on how his season got away from him.
Agreed on Senga, too. The Dodgers would be a great destination for him, and we'd get a lot in return. In fact, all the West Coast teams would have something to offer us, and in all likelihood, that's where Senga would want to go.
If I had to choose between dumping Vientos or Senga, I’d move on from Vientos. He’s not locked into a contract like Senga and shows no sign of developing into a reliable contact hitter anytime soon.
As for Senga—who knows? Maybe some rest over the winter will help him recover his strength. What he really needs is better conditioning to avoid the nagging injuries that keep setting him back.
Anyone dreaming Vientos can even be a first baseman is delusional. He made errors when he was playing there the couple times they put Pete at DH. Mebbe he got into his head but the Mets don’t have another season to let him figure it out. I’d see what he has in spring training and if he shits the bed there try and get a bag of balls before the season starts for him and if not cut bait and see if he clears wavers and stick him in AAA. HE IS UNPLAYABLE IN THE FIELD!!! Send Senga to the west coast. The Dodgers or Giants or Padres. Let them try and fix him. The Mets know they can’t count on him. Why go into the season with a problem you need to cross your fingers with already? He isn’t a Stearns signing so he isn’t going to be loyal to that deal. This team needs change. It needs a stud at the top of the rotation. You cannot go into next season with the same rotation plus McClean and believe it’s fixed. Stearns needs to be making moves during the Hot Stove. This is going to be the last season of baseball for a long time. The lockout happens Dec. 1,2026.
It's going to be tough to move Senga, although he might agree to go to a West Coast team. If he stays, he can't go to the bullpen. He's much, much too delicate for that kind of role.
Which leaves us with a problem. A simple solution would be for Senga to be able to fill a slot in a five-man rotation and let's get on with it: McLean, Manaea, Senga, Peterson, Holmes looks pretty darn good if everyone pitches up to snuff.
But as David Stearns said, it's foolish to pencil Senga in for 30 starts, and that's what it would take to make a five-man work. It's basically 32 starts a man across the board. Can he handle it?
The world wonders.
As to Vientos, I wouldn't quite give up on him yet. His sophomore jinx was as brutal as it gets, and I think it's clear Baty is the starter at third now — and that includes against left-handed pitching. But with fresh eyes on the hitting now, his problems might be fixable.
But he's going to need a pretty massive Spring Training, I think. Or go play some winter ball and show he can get it together.
If they Mets can move Senga they should. I felt this way from the moment I heard they were re-arranging everything around him so he can pitch while comfortable. As the author wrote, this year follows what happens when you structure your team around the needs of one person. And of course the Mets are now looking to Japan for hitters, who while not as restricting, have their own drawbacks in switching leagues.
Well, I guess you don't have Senga posters on your wall. I think it's unfair to paint him as a prima donna: "...they catered to every need he had in order to make him feel more comfortable ..." Has the guy made public comments suggesting he's a brat? I'll add that before the injury this year his performance wasn't "pretty good", it was Cy Young caliber. Quite injury prone, agreed, and planning a rotation around him bit them. I wouldn't be so eager to cut him loose. They'd get little in a trade and I'd be inclined to give him a chance to recapture his mojo, rather like Hensley if he can be signed for relatively cheap.
I think Senga has a full no trade contract