The regular season is done (and so are the Mets & Yanks), so it is officially "Hot Stove" season in New York. This is our daily open thread to discuss the many possibilities in the Mets' first off-season headed by a President Of Baseball Operations (POBO). There are many intriguing story lines and rumors already spinning around in the media, so this is your opportunity to weigh in with your thoughts.
Today's topic: Baseball wisdom says that a team should be "strong up the middle". With Lindor, Nimmo, and Alvarez locked into three of the four positions, who is the second baseman the Mets should ride with in 2024 to be strongest up the middle?
16 comments:
First
Nimmo isn't a lock in center. Either Acuña or Williams could push him to a corner in 2025
The other will be the 2025 second baseman
2024?
Mauricio on second
Mauricio at 2nd, or McNeil with Mauricio in the outfield.
acuna should be the 2B in 2025.
Too many "ifs" there, including Marte's readiness and the possibility of Stearns signing an OFer as a FA or in trade.
Mauricio reportedly looked like a faster Hundly in previous trials last year, so barring new faces, I'd go with Ronny at 2B and Squirrel in LF .
If McNeil isn’t traded for a pitcher he’s the 2Bman. Mauricio on third at last for the first 30 games.
Jeff McNeil has played a very competent 2B in his years with the Mets. However, when we saw a lot of Guillorme in 2022 it showed what a slick fielding pair up the middle can do. So if Stearns can't get Counsell to run the team and they tap me (hahaha) I would put Mauricio at 2B with his SS range. He and Lindor will quickly learn each other's tendencies and bring the Mets' defense up a notch. McNeil goes to right as Marte never recovers his former abilities.
Let me caution everyone about prospects
They are not yet proven
My guess is Mauricio and Alvarez pass the litmus test
The other two Baby Mets plus the minor leaguers in the chain aren't yet and maybe never will be
This is why you resign a guy like Pete instead of trading him for a package of minor league pitching prospects
Know entities are 10x better than future projections
Mack, my brother agrees with you on this Pete comment 100%.
Paul, I have advice to Mauricio - this winter, turn yourself into someone who can play 2nd, the OF, and 3rd. It's called practice and study. If he wants to be a Met regular, he needs to be a strong fielder.
My guess is Mauricio’ glove at second or third will be fine. It’s all about his bat,can he hit 250+ with 15-20 HRs?
McNeil is a second baseman that could fake it in the outfield, but his offense is not an outfielder’s. He is the second baseman, Mauricio has the arm and range for third, Baty needs to learn LF because he doesn’t have the instincts to play 3B and Vientos is a DH/1B/3B type. Let’s stop kidding ourselves and enough of the putting square pegs in round holes like this team has done for over fifteen years.
Mack, if Alonso can bring back a package of at least two frontline starting pitching prospects and a couple of good relievers, you have to make that trade. All peojections show a drop off.
That’s me again
70 wins and fifth place if they make that trade!
If they do make the trade, they could sign Bellinger to replace him and aldo play OF very well.
Ever since I discovered F1 streams, I haven’t missed a single game. Life-changing!
Tex I agree with you to a point. I do think if a team like the Cubs overwhelm us with Horton and Ferris (2 front end SP prospects) and one other top 10 prospect I’d do it. Boras will not let us sign Pete before FA. Almost all his players go to FA. Better to get something for him now and try to resign him when he’s a FA in 2025.
McNeil should be the 2nd baseman until Acuna is ready. I think McNeil’s ability to play the OF and Acuna really only playing 2nd makes sense and pushes McNeil to the OF. I think the Mets give Baty one more shot in the first half of the season at 3rd and let Mauricio play the OF. I think if any or all of Acuna, Gilbert, and Jett get to the Mets for the 2nd half of the season we’ll have more then enough talent for the OF and 2nd and 3rd. I think then with the abundance of young talent coming we would use a few players for mid season trades (Vientos, Baty, McNeil, etc.) You can’t play all these young talented people.
One more thing if Baty is a bust 1st half of next year and Mauricio takes over at 3rd for the 2nd half of next year and isn’t good either Bregman is a FA in 2025.
We had 75 wins with Pete this year. I’m not saying trade him but if he won’t sign an extension and a team like the Cubs makes an overwhelming offer Stearns should consider it.
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