Reese Kaplan -- Help Is On The Way Eventually (After 2024)

On a Mets fan's long day's journey into night you begin to ponder what in-house resources does the team have to address their many holes going into the 2024 season given the poor level of performance witnessed during 2023?  For purposes of this guesswork, let's confine analysis to the AAA level in Syracuse and how it could help with offense.  We won't discuss potential trades nor free agent signings at this juncture.

First, let's define the problems:

3rd Base

This well trod ground has been tackled before, but it's time once again to decide how it should be approached.  We will assume for the moment that internal temporarily major league players like Jonathan Arauz, injured Luis Guillorme and healthy but otherwise unspectacular Danny Mendick are not on the table as long term solutions.  

On the next row are infielders like Brett Baty and Mark Vientos.  Baty has been playing like an All Star since his demotion to the minors.  He's hitting for average, for power and his defense has not made regular blooper reels.  He bats left handed and seems to have the mix of offensive potential skills for power and average to remind others of a mirror image of the right handed David Wright.  However, he has not yet demonstrated the ability to elevate to even solid regular at the major league level.  

Then there's the equally puzzling case of Mark Vientos.  He was mismanaged completely on his first injury-ascension to the majors, but with Baty's departure the day-to-day chance was there for the taking.  Now we hear he has a soreness issue which is apparently interfering with his natural swing so that despite recently having lined quite a smashes off his bat, he's not going to get to continue his development until he heals.  With Baty raking in AAA I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Vientos get the 10-day IL minimum stint to rest and the starting assignments will go to the former starter at 3rd.

Finally there's yet-to-be-seen rookie Ronny Mauricio.  Whether or not he's in the mix for third base depends on where they plan to play Jeff McNeil next season.  If McNeil returns to 2nd base, then Mauricio is a possible contender for a role at 3rd.  He has power and speed but his glove is also suspect and his natural shortstop position continues to be blocked by Francisco Lindor.

Outfield

The Mets outfield in general is an exercise in futility based upon the 2023 season.  Brandon Nimmo is slowly working himself into the player the club thought he was when they rewarded him with the multiyear deal in the winter.  That's the good news.  

The bad news is the future of Starling Marte.  Don't get me wrong.  We all saw and reveled in what he could do based upon his 2022 All Star worthy season.  This year about the only thing that's gone right for the man is stealing bases which is somewhat puzzling considering his groin surgeries in the off season.  He's not hitting for average, not hitting for power and even his defense has not looked like vintage Marte.  He's on the books for another two full years at a lopsided $21 million plus per season.  There's no way you're going to be able to trade him away at that lofty rate given both his groin issues and migraines that destroyed his 2023 season, but at the same time everyone knows what a healthy version is capable of delivering.  It's highly unlikely the Mets are going to simply eat a contract based upon one bad year, but anything is possible.  

Again, the DJ Stewart, Tim Locastro and Rafael Ortega types are not the caliber of players contenders put out there on a daily basis unless forced to do so as a result of multiple injuries.  Ronny Mauricio was experimented in the outfield but apparently that has not gone well.  No one in AAA is what you'd deem a hot prospect forcing the Mets to make a near or long term promotion.  These potential openings may have to come from outside the organization. 

Designated Hitter

To a man, Mets fans, media providers and seemingly everyone but the front office has long since mentally moved on from Daniel Vogelbach at the DH position.  He cannot field, cannot run, can't hit for average and until very recently seems to have forgotten how to put the ball over the fence.  He's got a great smile and is supposed to be well liked in every clubhouse he's temporarily called home.  For the very modest salary he's receiving you could make the case that it is enough, though bear in mind those many walks he draws don't help very much if he is a clog on the basepaths.

So who can help the club at DH in 2024 internally?  Well, it may come down to who doesn't assert himself well enough to take the field regularly to play both sides of the diamond.  The perception here is that Brett Baty is still the club's choice to play 3rd.  If that's the case then Mark Vientos becomes a DH possibility as his natural positions would be blocked by Baty and Pete Alonso.  Ronny Mauricio is another one who could conceivably hit the DH trail if he's not considered outfield material and his positions are covered by Baty and McNeil.  Other than that, the Mets don't have much in-house.

Catcher

In this case, the heading should really be backup catcher as Francisco Alvarez has cemented himself into the starting role.  The current contract situation for Omar Narvaez would command a pretty hefty price to sit on the bench next season.  He's being paid $8 million for this injury-laden year and lost his job.  There is a player option for $7 million for next season but it's highly unlikely Narvaez would opt out of his deal in the deluded hope he would get more money elsewhere.  However, if his desire to play as a starter overwhelms his common sense, then it would appear what's old is new again with the .291 hitting Tomas Nido returning from his banishment to the minors.  Apparently his vision issues were really what derailed him this season and he normally plays highly acceptable defense despite a less-than-stellar offensive reputation as a backup.  

The long term goal for the Mets may very well be to reinforce their minor league development and there are quite a few players worth watching at lower levels in the organization.  For now, however, Syracuse does not have many baby Mets who will represent the team's immediate future.