Reese Kaplan -- Ripple Effects of Correa Deal Touch Many Players

I had an interesting conversation recently with friends who were avid (almost rabid) baseball fans and the topic d'jour turned to the three hot Mets offensive rookies who now find themselves in a somewhat strange affinity to the outcome of the Carlos Correa transaction. The most secure of the trio is catcher Francisco Alvarez whose main veteran obstacle to innings behind the plate is on his way to stay in the Hot-L Baltimore. The duo of would-be third basemen, however, are tap dancing on very thin ice.

All through the winter we heard the front office preach the gospel of keeping the youngsters around to blossom and flourish at Citifield and no longer look at them merely as trade chips. It's a very long list indeed of former Mets system players who went onto have great careers elsewhere so that the team could secure the next Joe Foy or the next Jason Middlebrook or the next Jon Adkins. Sometimes it made sense when the player obtained at least in the earlier part of his career did something worthwhile like Jim Fregosi, but trying to grasp onto arthritic straws at the end of a player's career rarely turns out to be a wise move.

Right now words are populating all over the place about Brett Baty's supposed poor defensive skills, something that was never discussed at all prior to the prospective Gold Glove shortstop coming on board to take over Baty's would be slot at the hot corner. While part of this conversation is due in part to justifying the megabucks that will inevitably be paid to Correa, but part of it might be some objectivity about a good bat not being quite productive enough to shelter the down side on defense. Then again, didn't Mike Piazza make it to Cooperstown without ever making anyone mistake him for Jerry Grote or Johnny Bench behind the plate?

The player who has been justly chastised for his lack of defensive acumen, Mark Vientos, is now likely fourth on the chart behind Correa, Baty and Eduardo Escobar when it comes to getting opportunities to don his glove next to the Francisco Lindor. First base is occupied by big Pete Alonso, so that leaves DH as the only possible regular slot for at-bats for power hitting rookie.

Hot on their heels behind them is Dominican Winter League MVP Ronny Mauricio who is likely already being told to find a new playing position. He took some balls at third base at the end of the winter season, but as big as he is it may be that he's better suited to roam the grass of the outfield since he has stolen base speed to go along with his home run power. After the older Starling Marte needs to move to a DH or part-time role and left field being vacant after Mark Canha's 2023 contract expires, the Mets are pretty thin on either side of newly minted long term center fielder Brandon Nimmo.

Of course, no matter how well regarded these prospects are, minor league success is no guarantee it will correspond to a similar level of productivity in the majors. Do you remember Ike Davis? How about Eric Campbell? Remember Kirk Neiuwenhuis?

It's not just hitters that struggle making the adjustment to The Show. Generation K didn't amount to much of anything. Some pitchers who excelled in the minors had some success in the majors like Scott Kazmir and Michael Fulmer. Then there are others who didn't wow anyone in the lower levels but then came up to win a pair of Cy Young Awards like new Ranger Jacob deGrom.

As far as the current crop of young hitters go, they will get chances either in the minors, with the Mets or being paid by a new employer. You can't force feed them into a lineup unless the Correa deal falls apart completely. Vientos could be a right handed platoon partner for Daniel Vogelbach. Alvarez could start taking primary catching duties away from Tomas Nido and Omar Narvaez. The one who probably has the most worry is Brett Baty whose position is deep even without him.