At the center of the article today is the question: "Do we give Vientos another chance or do we trade him for whatever we can manage to get, i.e., very little"? He's a DH if there ever was one (DH need not be aged) and he does have power. If you bring in one of the guys mentioned in today's piece, Vientos' role evaporates. If I'm Stearns, I take my chances with Vientos. The Mets have about 5 big question marks, why not 6, haha?
I'm here, too. If he can stay healthy all year and hit to his potential, Alvie will add a lot of pop. We already know what we're getting from Soto and Lindor. It's fair to figure Semien and Polanco to be around 20 dingers each, and if Robert and Baty are there too, we should be in good shape.
That leaves DH. I'm not sure if Marte is coming back (personally, I'd give him another year), but if Vientos can get back to where he was a couple years ago, that's all we need. I'd take my chances with him, too.
I haven't thought much about Marte lately. In 2022 he was great and seemed to get a clutch hit every time you looked up. (Just looked it up: how's about BA of .429 in high leverage situations?). After he got injured they weren't the same team. I'm afraid to say that like my boy McNeil, it's probably time to say goodbye.
If Sterns signs Hays, then what to do with Baty? Kid needs steady at bats to develop, he's not an O'Neil. Vientos, I think, can return to his 2024 self with the proper coaching. No coincidence his breakout year came with JD Martinez on the bench guiding him. The kid (and he is a kid) probably needs extra TLC in order to hit. Last note, I do like Hoskins as your 1b backup/ DH/power pinch hitter. Sterns need to round out his bench still.
I doubt another big HR bat is coming. Stearns wants to do exactly what you said. Put the ball in play and move runners along that way. It’s a good season long strategy but I don’t like it for the playoffs. The Brewers play that type of game and won the most games in baseball last season. They faced the best pitchers in the playoffs and fizzled out. I’m not saying small ball doesn’t win and to me it’s an exciting brand of baseball. Just tough to count on it when the tourney starts. When is Chavez going to shut his mouth?
Each time a remaining FA position player signs, I breath a sigh of relief. No Bader (sighed), no Hays, no Ozuna, no Suarez. All these guys would take at bats from Baty and/or Vientos or Mauricio. Btw, I'm stumped why Jose Quintana doesn't get any ink. He was pretty good last year and If the price is right, I'd get him as insurance. David, you listening?
With Framber still on the market and the O’s his only named suitor but no deal imminent, a savvy GM like Stearns should be ready to pounce and sign him on a prove-it deal.
That would leave the Mets with a rotation of: Valdez, Peralta, McLean, Holmes, Senga, Manaea, Peterson (with Myers, Scott, Tong and others waiting in the wings).
While a 6 man rotation has been projected as likely to at least start the season, a 7 man rotation is one too many. Stearns would have to trade one, likely Peterson.
From a pitching perspective, swapping Framber for Peterson on 1 year deals is a no-brainer, regardless of the cost. From a roster perspective, it allows Stearns to once again deal from a position of strength to fill a hole elsewhere.
And that’s where we get the 2nd half of this pie in the sky idea: Trade Peterson and Baty for Jarren Duran and a prospect.
Duran could be the perfect player to give Benge the runway Stearns wants to get regular playing time in LF. Duran is already the 4th OF’er in Boston after being supplanted by Roman Anthony. Duran could fill the same role with the Mets, supplanting Tyrone Taylor with equally strong defense and much better offense.
If Benge wins the LF role out of Spring, cut Taylor or send him to AAA and Duran is your 4th OF’er who can play all 3 positions, be a pinch runner for speed and in the 50/50 chance Robert Jr gets hurt or doesn’t rediscover his bat, could take over CF full time with ease.
It also frees up Mendoza from having to find 400 AB’s for Baty who really needs to play regularly at a single position do get his bat going. He slides in at 3B with the Red Sox to give Mayer some more time to develop.
That would leave the projected roster looking something like:
Bench: Duran (OF), Mauricio (CI/DH), Torrens (C), Vidal (UTIL)
Personally, I think Mauricio is the most naturally athletic player on the roster. If he can hit .250 and get his OBP to .320+ he’ll start to become a real dangerous weapon. And should Bichette opt-out and not return, he’s your 3B of the future.
That's a lot of ideas! Far as the first is concerned, if by a miracle they sign Valdez, it's a great staff. I'd rather keep Manea for long relief and not trade any starter. Injuries will happen, we can count on that. While the Boston trade you propose is very interesting, methinks Duran is too good to be a 4th outfielder and could block Benge. On the other hand, I like the idea of Robert, Benge, and Duran rotating through LF and CF. On the other other hand, if you trade Baty you might have a big hole at third if Bichette opts out next year. Finally, Mauricio is, I agree, tremendously athletic but there've been plenty of very toolsy guys that don't make it. He needs playing time but counting on him is another matter.
I don’t love the idea of paying Manaea $25M to be a long reliever…I don’t think Stearns would either. The general consensus is a healthy Spring should get him back to the guy they signed for $75M.
To me, Mauricio fills that potential Bichette hole…if he doesn’t work out they’ve also got Reimer progressing thru the minors. If he picks up where he left off last season he’s likely a Top 100 MLB prospect by the summer.
As for Duran, I also agree he’s probably too good to be a 4th OF’er, but that’s a great problem to have for this season. But the likelihood of Benge and Robert both being the starting LF & CF in 2027 is 50/50 at best…having Duran as an in-house option to replace either one would be great.
The DH is an aging sluggers' paradise. The Mets have mostly used it as a day off for a position player or a punishment for a crappy fielder = the Mets have abused the position over the years.
At the center of the article today is the question: "Do we give Vientos another chance or do we trade him for whatever we can manage to get, i.e., very little"? He's a DH if there ever was one (DH need not be aged) and he does have power. If you bring in one of the guys mentioned in today's piece, Vientos' role evaporates. If I'm Stearns, I take my chances with Vientos. The Mets have about 5 big question marks, why not 6, haha?
I'm here, too. If he can stay healthy all year and hit to his potential, Alvie will add a lot of pop. We already know what we're getting from Soto and Lindor. It's fair to figure Semien and Polanco to be around 20 dingers each, and if Robert and Baty are there too, we should be in good shape.
That leaves DH. I'm not sure if Marte is coming back (personally, I'd give him another year), but if Vientos can get back to where he was a couple years ago, that's all we need. I'd take my chances with him, too.
I haven't thought much about Marte lately. In 2022 he was great and seemed to get a clutch hit every time you looked up. (Just looked it up: how's about BA of .429 in high leverage situations?). After he got injured they weren't the same team. I'm afraid to say that like my boy McNeil, it's probably time to say goodbye.
If Sterns signs Hays, then what to do with Baty? Kid needs steady at bats to develop, he's not an O'Neil. Vientos, I think, can return to his 2024 self with the proper coaching. No coincidence his breakout year came with JD Martinez on the bench guiding him. The kid (and he is a kid) probably needs extra TLC in order to hit. Last note, I do like Hoskins as your 1b backup/ DH/power pinch hitter. Sterns need to round out his bench still.
I doubt another big HR bat is coming. Stearns wants to do exactly what you said. Put the ball in play and move runners along that way. It’s a good season long strategy but I don’t like it for the playoffs. The Brewers play that type of game and won the most games in baseball last season. They faced the best pitchers in the playoffs and fizzled out. I’m not saying small ball doesn’t win and to me it’s an exciting brand of baseball. Just tough to count on it when the tourney starts. When is Chavez going to shut his mouth?
Stay away, Stay FAR away from Ozuna....
Don't want him anywhere near the Mets
Each time a remaining FA position player signs, I breath a sigh of relief. No Bader (sighed), no Hays, no Ozuna, no Suarez. All these guys would take at bats from Baty and/or Vientos or Mauricio. Btw, I'm stumped why Jose Quintana doesn't get any ink. He was pretty good last year and If the price is right, I'd get him as insurance. David, you listening?
Pie in the sky idea:
With Framber still on the market and the O’s his only named suitor but no deal imminent, a savvy GM like Stearns should be ready to pounce and sign him on a prove-it deal.
That would leave the Mets with a rotation of: Valdez, Peralta, McLean, Holmes, Senga, Manaea, Peterson (with Myers, Scott, Tong and others waiting in the wings).
While a 6 man rotation has been projected as likely to at least start the season, a 7 man rotation is one too many. Stearns would have to trade one, likely Peterson.
From a pitching perspective, swapping Framber for Peterson on 1 year deals is a no-brainer, regardless of the cost. From a roster perspective, it allows Stearns to once again deal from a position of strength to fill a hole elsewhere.
And that’s where we get the 2nd half of this pie in the sky idea: Trade Peterson and Baty for Jarren Duran and a prospect.
Duran could be the perfect player to give Benge the runway Stearns wants to get regular playing time in LF. Duran is already the 4th OF’er in Boston after being supplanted by Roman Anthony. Duran could fill the same role with the Mets, supplanting Tyrone Taylor with equally strong defense and much better offense.
If Benge wins the LF role out of Spring, cut Taylor or send him to AAA and Duran is your 4th OF’er who can play all 3 positions, be a pinch runner for speed and in the 50/50 chance Robert Jr gets hurt or doesn’t rediscover his bat, could take over CF full time with ease.
It also frees up Mendoza from having to find 400 AB’s for Baty who really needs to play regularly at a single position do get his bat going. He slides in at 3B with the Red Sox to give Mayer some more time to develop.
That would leave the projected roster looking something like:
SP: Valdez, Peralta, McLean, Manaea, Holmes, Senga
RP: Williams, Weaver, Raley, Garcia, Myers, Brazoban, Alzolay
Starting Lineup: Alvarez (C), Polanco (1B), Semien (2B), Lindor (SS), Bichette (3B), Soto (RF), Robert Jr (CF), Benge (LF), Vientos (DH)
Bench: Duran (OF), Mauricio (CI/DH), Torrens (C), Vidal (UTIL)
Personally, I think Mauricio is the most naturally athletic player on the roster. If he can hit .250 and get his OBP to .320+ he’ll start to become a real dangerous weapon. And should Bichette opt-out and not return, he’s your 3B of the future.
That's a lot of ideas! Far as the first is concerned, if by a miracle they sign Valdez, it's a great staff. I'd rather keep Manea for long relief and not trade any starter. Injuries will happen, we can count on that. While the Boston trade you propose is very interesting, methinks Duran is too good to be a 4th outfielder and could block Benge. On the other hand, I like the idea of Robert, Benge, and Duran rotating through LF and CF. On the other other hand, if you trade Baty you might have a big hole at third if Bichette opts out next year. Finally, Mauricio is, I agree, tremendously athletic but there've been plenty of very toolsy guys that don't make it. He needs playing time but counting on him is another matter.
I don’t love the idea of paying Manaea $25M to be a long reliever…I don’t think Stearns would either. The general consensus is a healthy Spring should get him back to the guy they signed for $75M.
To me, Mauricio fills that potential Bichette hole…if he doesn’t work out they’ve also got Reimer progressing thru the minors. If he picks up where he left off last season he’s likely a Top 100 MLB prospect by the summer.
As for Duran, I also agree he’s probably too good to be a 4th OF’er, but that’s a great problem to have for this season. But the likelihood of Benge and Robert both being the starting LF & CF in 2027 is 50/50 at best…having Duran as an in-house option to replace either one would be great.
The DH is an aging sluggers' paradise. The Mets have mostly used it as a day off for a position player or a punishment for a crappy fielder = the Mets have abused the position over the years.
CARPE DIEM!
A bit of an odd take, imo. If the DH is a crappy fielder or a regular getting a partial rest day, no harm done so long as they hit.