The Mets either have three third basemen to choose amongst for 2024. Or two. Or one.
Or none.
“I like that we have now three great options,” Buck Showalter said.
But what else could he say? He doesn’t wish to bad-mouth his players and/or lower their value for David Stearns’ latest administration to do what it will do.
So I might be less diplomatic.
Mark Vientos, starting at third, played well on each side of the ball Sunday, including going 3-for-4 with an RBI in a 8-4 victory over the Reds. Still, I’m fairly confident he just isn’t even a chunk of the reply. The sport is moving toward greater athleticism and the Mets cannot keep foregoing defense on the position. They’ve, for instance, had a negative Outs Above Average in each of the last three seasons at third.
It was minus-9 this season (twenty seventh within the majors) with Brett Baty having began their most games there (84), though he sat out his fourth straight Sunday while nursing a groin injury. He was personally minus-4. You never wish to dismiss a young player from improving. Wade Boggs, for instance, had the popularity of a butcher within the minors. But through fanatical work ethic turned himself into a significant league Gold Glove third baseman.
Baty worked last offseason with Troy Tulowitzki to attempt to upgrade his defense. The outcomes have yet to manifest. He does exhibit the fluidity of a very good third baseman. So how much would he should hit to justify playing third? His 66 OPS-plus this 12 months was ninth worst amongst those that have batted as often (348 plate appearances) — and the worst for anyone playing third repeatedly.
Remember, hitting is imagined to be his carrying tool. Would Baty hit more if moved to a less demanding position corresponding to left field or first base? Would he hit more in a less demanding locale — would the Stearns administration, without emotional ties to the present talent base, feel Baty’s best use is in a trade?
The identical might be asked about Ronny Mauricio. Would he be best within the outfield or in a trade? Or can he solve third? With Francisco Lindor on the roster, Mauricio is rarely going to play shortstop repeatedly for the Mets. He won the Dominican Winter League MVP getting about one-third of his starts at third and the Mets should see as much of him there as possible the last two weeks.
It’s that point of 12 months when results could be deceiving. But that is the one laboratory left this season and the Mets should gather as much information as possible. The most effective free-agent third baseman goes to be Toronto’s Matt Chapman, who after a blistering start has hit .203 and struck out in 30.4 percent of his plate appearances since May 10 (he did have a walk-off hit Sunday). Next best is Jeimer Candelario, who has played as much first as third since being obtained on the trade deadline by the Cubs. Each, especially Chapman, goes to require the type of costly, long-term commitment that the Mets have indicated they are going to avoid this offseason.
Thus, an internal solution could be best and Showalter has overseen a successful transition of a shortstop to 3rd a decade ago when J.J. Hardy was his Oriole shortstop and Manny Machado was moved to 3rd. Obviously, Machado was more well-regarded entering the league. But Showalter also clearly likes Mauricio’s arm and aptitude. The query goes to be about swing decisions/discipline and talent to hit well as a righty for the switch hitter, who struck out twice from that side with runners in scoring position Sunday. He had two hits lefty and is batting .313.
The Mets must solve this issue. The early many years of this franchise were renowned for being unable to adequately fill third base for a sustained period, marked notably by trades in consecutive Decembers from 1969-71 for Joe Foy, Bob Aspromonte and Jim Fregosi; the Foy (Amos Otis) and Fregosi (Nolan Ryan) deals rating as historically awful.
Since David Wright’s back failed him a decade ago, the Mets have returned to mostly a black hole at the recent corner. Only Todd Frazier (2018-19) has led the Mets in games began at third in consecutive seasons since 2015. The Mets have had eight players man third this 12 months. Only the Tigers and Reds have more, and Cincinnati (with amongst others) rookies Elly De La Cruz, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Noelvi Marte, Spencer Steer cycling through have shown young players can handle the position.
For the Mets, Mauricio (18 innings at third) and Mark Canha (five) are the one 2023 third basemen who wouldn’t have a negative Wins Above Alternative (Fangraphs) they usually were at 0.0 — a fitting number for Mets third basemen again.
That obviously needs to vary. Do the Mets have already got the answers on the roster — or not?
