Any talk of Marte coming after Semien was brought in seems ridiculous. Plus the length of that contract? Stearns won’t go this route. Diaz seems most likely. The Bader/Marte also seems possible with Marte having a leg up with his Soto relationship. I think Baty has earned the third base job and I’d like to see what he can do with the position knowing the job is his from the jump in spring training. I think the Mets and us will be happy with him. He hit lefties last year when given the chance so the narrative he should be in a platoon should be swept aside. Bellinger I think is the only player who fits now.
We are assuming (hoping) that the second half Baty is the real Baty. Sweet swing and a quick bat. I think he's the real deal. And he is a good defender.
Hav to remember Baty was a first round pick. Just like how NFL teams give up on QBs too quickly and they go someplace else and resurrect their careers it might be a good thing they kept him and while it took longer than anticipated Baty finally feels like a major league player now and I think he will be a solid player. Certainly don’t need to worry about his glove like Vientos.
Considering Stearns interest in changing clubhouse chemistry, bringing back Marte does not match that direction. Not that Marte was a problem, but perhaps Soto needs to blaze his own path with the Mets, rather than unintentionally hide behind his best buddy. He has 14 years left and needs to figure out what he wants to be as a NY Met. He got married and their is no divorce court available.
I think the trade was more 'getting rid of Nimmo' than 'bringing in Semien'. If they planned on an experiment at 1B, it should have been Baty and a BIG bat added at 3B. Ketel's contract is actually very team friendly considering his proven talent level, but acquiring him would be surprising ... unless they were able to trade away Semien. The 'run prevention' scenario disappeared when Pete left, I think ... and there is no way they can field a rotation good enough to support it. With the limited buzz about the rotation, Plans B and C needs/seems to be BIG bats ... spelled K Y L E T U C K E R, a RH.
I don't see us trading for Ketel Marte unless it's to play center. He hasn't started out there since 2021, but that doesn't mean he can't go back out, and it's not like he's too old — he'll be in his age 32 season. So, it's viable, at least on paper.
And if we do that and sign Tucker to play left, then all of a sudden things are really looking up. That's a heck of an outfield.
So ... maybe.
But I think a lot depends on whether or not we sign Tucker. If we do, a lot of pieces fall into place. If we don't, there's some more work to be done, and maybe the schedule to bring up Ewing and Williams and Benge gets accelerated.
All of which is possible. And we have to keep in mind the possibility of an extended lockout in 2027. I find it hard to believe Stearns and Cohen are mapping this out and not keeping one eye on that possibility.
Anything other than getting Tucker or Bellinger will be a sideways move. Ketel Marte is a great player that simply doesn't fit. Let's not sweep under the rug that 125 rbis took the train to Baltimore. Let's not forget how God-awful the starters were last year in the second half. If nothing dramatic is done between now and April we're looking at a sub .500 team.
Any talk of Marte coming after Semien was brought in seems ridiculous. Plus the length of that contract? Stearns won’t go this route. Diaz seems most likely. The Bader/Marte also seems possible with Marte having a leg up with his Soto relationship. I think Baty has earned the third base job and I’d like to see what he can do with the position knowing the job is his from the jump in spring training. I think the Mets and us will be happy with him. He hit lefties last year when given the chance so the narrative he should be in a platoon should be swept aside. Bellinger I think is the only player who fits now.
Baty has earned zip over the course of his 4 years in the majors. IMO.
We are assuming (hoping) that the second half Baty is the real Baty. Sweet swing and a quick bat. I think he's the real deal. And he is a good defender.
Hav to remember Baty was a first round pick. Just like how NFL teams give up on QBs too quickly and they go someplace else and resurrect their careers it might be a good thing they kept him and while it took longer than anticipated Baty finally feels like a major league player now and I think he will be a solid player. Certainly don’t need to worry about his glove like Vientos.
I think Tucker is a great fit in left and I'm dearly hoping Stearns is patiently waiting for his demands to lower some.
Considering Stearns interest in changing clubhouse chemistry, bringing back Marte does not match that direction. Not that Marte was a problem, but perhaps Soto needs to blaze his own path with the Mets, rather than unintentionally hide behind his best buddy. He has 14 years left and needs to figure out what he wants to be as a NY Met. He got married and their is no divorce court available.
I think the trade was more 'getting rid of Nimmo' than 'bringing in Semien'. If they planned on an experiment at 1B, it should have been Baty and a BIG bat added at 3B. Ketel's contract is actually very team friendly considering his proven talent level, but acquiring him would be surprising ... unless they were able to trade away Semien. The 'run prevention' scenario disappeared when Pete left, I think ... and there is no way they can field a rotation good enough to support it. With the limited buzz about the rotation, Plans B and C needs/seems to be BIG bats ... spelled K Y L E T U C K E R, a RH.
I don't see us trading for Ketel Marte unless it's to play center. He hasn't started out there since 2021, but that doesn't mean he can't go back out, and it's not like he's too old — he'll be in his age 32 season. So, it's viable, at least on paper.
And if we do that and sign Tucker to play left, then all of a sudden things are really looking up. That's a heck of an outfield.
So ... maybe.
But I think a lot depends on whether or not we sign Tucker. If we do, a lot of pieces fall into place. If we don't, there's some more work to be done, and maybe the schedule to bring up Ewing and Williams and Benge gets accelerated.
All of which is possible. And we have to keep in mind the possibility of an extended lockout in 2027. I find it hard to believe Stearns and Cohen are mapping this out and not keeping one eye on that possibility.
Oh, and I should say, Yandy Diaz would be a nice fit for a year. But I think that move would have had to be made before we brought in Polanco.
Anything other than getting Tucker or Bellinger will be a sideways move. Ketel Marte is a great player that simply doesn't fit. Let's not sweep under the rug that 125 rbis took the train to Baltimore. Let's not forget how God-awful the starters were last year in the second half. If nothing dramatic is done between now and April we're looking at a sub .500 team.
Ketel Marte
⬇️
Yandy Diaz
⬇️
Kyle Tucker/Cody Bellinger
⬇️
Starling Marte/Harrison Bader
Or… none of the above