Mets finalize their player development staff, and why the Mets shouldn't sign JD Martínez

Is it truly wise to sign an aging veteran to a team trying to test the waters with their younger players?

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

What’s up with the Mets? 🍎

• The Mets announced their 2024 Player Development Staff (Press Release)

• Mark Vientos and Francisco Álvarez are among the Mets that have reported to camp early, as has Francisco Lindor (Mets)

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The counterargument to signing JD Martínez… ✍️

John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday, Rich wrote about why the Mets should just sign J.D. Martinez to be their DH already, and it was a convincing argument.

And Rich is certainly right.

The prospects of the New York Mets competing for a playoff spot in 2024 would be incrementally higher with Martinez on board. He would bring close to a sure thing to an offense in desperate need of more length, and provide a proven right-handed run producer.

I would personally not be upset in the least if the Mets were able to add him to the mix.

However, is there a downside to signing not just Martinez specifically, but a veteran DH in general?

To answer that question, I think we first need to have an honest internal discussion about what the realistic goals are for the Mets here in 2024.

On paper, I think we can all agree the club looks like the third best team in their own division. And out in southern California the Dodgers look like a behemoth.

Now, I think we can also all agree the Mets do have enough talent that - if things break right - they could fight for a wild card spot.

Now, after the colossal failure that was 2023 when expectations were through the rood, the Mets were applauded for cutting bait on their veteran core and restocking their farm system with elite talent. Next winter’s free agent class is stacked, and the Mets by and large had a quiet winter by Steve Cohen’s standards.

For now, the monster is back in his cage. For now.

We’re entering a season that is in many ways expected and accepted to be a bit of a reset. And during this reset campaign, as we wait for several of the highly regarded prospects acquired last summer to bubble to the surface, shouldn’t the primary objective be figuring out which players should or shouldn’t be part of the long term core and solution?

I would argue yes.

With that in mind, I am very much in the camp that Brett Baty should play third base every day, and Mark Vientos should DH every day. The duo has long been considered two of the team’s top prospects and both have dominated in the club’s minor league system.

The other thing both hitters have in common is that they’ve been somewhat jerked around at the big league level. They can join the very long list of Mets prospects that has happened to over the years.

Both Baty and Vientos have contributed uneven results in the majors, but they’ve also both never been given an uninhibited everyday role that’s truly pressure free and in an environment and condition that can permit them to succeed.

I would love to see what both players could do with a consistent starting job day in and day out, to learn whether that would help them find a rhythm and grown confidence at the sport’s highest level.

Here’s another thing that I think is important to remember.

If the Mets try Baty and Vientos early in the season, and one or both of them don’t work out, but the team is still in contention for a wild card spot, they could find a DH available on the trade market in July.

There is a reason hitters like J.D. Martinez and Jorge Soler are still available approaching Valentine’s Day. Baseball is an incredibly difficult sport to play, but it’s incrementally harder when you also have to play defense. Bat only type players are harder to pigeonhole into a role, which is part of the reason we’re even having this discussion.

Now, like I said earlier, if the Mets were to sign Martinez tomorrow, I wouldn’t hate it. But given the choice, I think I’d love to learn what exactly we have with our own young guys.

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Hot Stove 🔥

• Former Met J.D. Davis won his arbitration case with the Giants (SF Chronicle)

• The Dodgers signed veteran infielder Chris Owings to a minor league deal (The Athletic)

• The Rays have signed President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander and manager Kevin Cash to long term extensions (TB Times)