Reese Kaplan -- The Mets' Least-Wanted September Hitter Is Here

While many of us are wondering (and worrying) whether or not the Mets can hold onto their tenuous grip atop the Eastern Division for the National League pennant race, there are a great many other factors to consider during this race to the finish.  One of the most important ones is the construction of a postseason roster.  

You're all aware by now that Starling Marte is headed to a backdated stay on the IL which enabled the Mets to add a hitter to replace him on the roster.  The youngster chosen was none other than Mark Vientos, the player many felt deserved to be promoted at the time Brett Baty made his way into Citifield.  Now with Baty gone for the season due to injury and Eduardo Escobar waking up after a season-long struggle to play for his worth, what becomes of Vientos?

Well, there's a natural and relatively inexpensive solution that can be tried which sets up the Mets right now for their short term need, but could also work into October if Vientos proves himself capable of facing this newer (and more polished) level of pitching competition.  

Bear in mind that Vientos has traditionally struggled each and every time he got promoted to the next level.  Whether it's nervousness about having to prove himself worthy of the advancement or it could be honestly having to readjust his game to better pitching.  The fact is if the pattern continues then he's really just a benchwarmer to pinch hit occasionally when other options have already been exhausted.

There's another way to play this situation if the Mets are honestly concerned more about their future and less about affecting Vientos' future trade value.  If they don't play Vientos much, he preserves a .280 batting average in Syracuse with 24 HRs which would make him a pretty desirable get for another team looking to make a trade.  However, if you insert Vientos directly into the lineup and he does his next-level falter, he won't have time to adjust his performance during the 20 or so games left on the schedule.

So here's the rub -- play Vientos and see him struggle, thus minimizing his future trade value since obviously they value Baty more highly than they do Vientos.  Or do you have him here "just in case" and quickly usher him into Winter Ball once Marte is deemed capable of playing once again.  

Well, in this case you can indeed have your cake and eat it, too.  Darin Ruf has been a disaster since his late arrival from San Francisco (via the last few years in Korea).  His 30 HR and 100+ RBI offense is now non-existent and aside from a highlight reel of pitching in a blowout, his defense isn't anything for the sports show replays either. 

You gave up a lot at the very last minute to get him, including both J.D. Davis and Thomas Szapucki.  However, his salary is just $3 million although the club is technically on the hook for 2023 as well as a $250K buyout for 2024.  So call it the lion's share of just over $6 million for a reputed slugger who at age 35 has his best days on the backs of baseball cards but no longer on the playing field.

What about converting Ruf into the benchwarmer and inserting Vientos into the right handed half of the DH role?  Even struggling he can't be any worse than Ruf and you get to see how he handles major league pitching.  Then you are better prepared to make two decisions. 

Do you drop Ruf before the end of September, eat the salary owed and make Vientos a part of the chase for the postseason?  Or do you simply use it as an exercise to allow both the Mets and potential trade partners evaluate whether or not after 30 games or so at this level how he'll handle this new level of competition?

Either way you need to do something with both of these players.  Ruf does not seem like a fit for a long term deal.  Escobar is much more expensive to cut loose and is younger (as well as better defensively) while being a switch hitter.  Vientos has been declared a poor fielder, so DH looks to be his role going forward.  If you're getting .129 hitting out of Ruf, what do you have to lose by testing Vientos?  

Yes, you could jeopardize his overall future trade value if he struggles, but what if he should be a part of the team in 2023 and onward?  How would you know unless the man plays?