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: The Mets have had a horrible track record with the DH position since it was established in the National League. How should the Mets fill the DH position for 2024 and beyond?
If a DH is going to be a half-player, he better be a beast. Using the spot to rest middle infielders and catchers is a waste. Get a full time slugger that can do damage and stop missing out on an opportunity. Let players get rest by sitting, not losing a valuable four at bats in the lineup.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gus
ReplyDeleteThe DH is now a real position and needs a real slugger that can hit all kinds of pitchers
Aging superstars fit in good here
Go get one
One possible option here would be a healed Marte
ReplyDeleteVientos should be our DH for next year and let him play every day. He has a very fast bat had the highest exit velocity for a Met this past season.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Mack and Raw. A combo of Marte and Vientos at DH. Marte can play OF twice a week and Vientos backing up Pete and a game at 3rd once in a while. Should get both enough at bats.
ReplyDeleteVogey needs to traded. Offers no option playing the field which hurts the bench. I’m sure we could get a 20-30 type prospect back from a team for him.
I agree that he should be traded but I don't think you can get much for him
DeleteCertainly not a good young reliever with six years of control left, just saying…
DeleteDon’t be so quick to jettison Vogey! He came back in the second half. A case can be made that he is a better hitter than Vientos.
ReplyDeleteHe sucks!!! His game is modeled after Brett Butler and his speed is modeled after Bartolo Colon.
DeleteIt is time to move on from Vogey. Been there done that. Vientos has a higher ceiling than Vogey. Give the kid a chance to play everyday. He has the potential to give you 30+ homeruns if given 500 at bats.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Vogelbach's contract expires at the end of this year. The Mets would have to re-sign him for him to DH next year. With Eppler gone that is a very unlikely scenario. Comments above are very relevant. Find a big hitting DH for a reasonable salary or commit to Mark Vientos full time.
ReplyDeleteVogey has one more year of Arbitration this year. So Stearns can not offer him arb and let him go or try to trade him for something.
DeleteAnyone who wants to keep Vogelbach needs to think: if he was not already on the team, would you want an aging, overweight, one dimensional player who also can’t hit lefties - or try something else? I’m definitely in the “something else” camp.
ReplyDeleteHe belongs back 50 years ago where teams could carry him as a pinch hitter who could be pinch run for.
Stem, I agree 100%. Vientos is not a great athlete, but compared to Vogelbach, he is so much more athletic.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the DH spot should be a position where your regular position players can take a break from the field. As I hope things go, O'Neill would be my DH. With his versatility, he can spell seven positions on the field (has not caught yet).
ReplyDeleteFrom the batting side - My hopes are the team make a significant outfielder trade and sign, sign a particular first baseman long term, have a healthy bounce back season for a right fielder, have someone finally claim second and/or third base, and have a prospect or two excel in AAA, get promoted midyear and show the ability to play second, third and/or center as needed.
The pitching side will also need work. Comment on my hopes when that comes up.
I would look at the DH not simply being an all-or-nothing slugger, but someone who won't clog the base paths and won't hit below .250. Not everyone is going to run like Starling Marte and not everyone is going to win a batting title like McNeil.
ReplyDeleteBy these metrics a Daniel Vogelbach simply doesn't suit the role. His batting average is substandard and he cannot run a lick. Someone like Vientos is no speed demon but he won't hurt as much as Vogelbach on the bases. I'd put McNeil into that same category.
Right now the club has a shortstop, a first baseman, a catcher, a center fielder and an ailing right fielder. They have two infield openings and one outfield opening.
With the current roster you must consider McNeil, Mauricio, Baty and Vientos for those openings. Unless you're planning on trading one of them, you are overcrowded. If you designated Vientos to be a DH, then McNeil can play left, Baty play 3rd and Mauricio play 2nd. That arrangement of players works but the likelihood of all three baby Mets performing as solid major leaguers takes an enormous amount of faith and I'm a heathen in that regard.
Right now I see the Mets in need of another capable bat and it means one or more of this group will not be on the Opening Day roster in Queens.
Ditto Reese's remarks.
ReplyDelete