Reese Kaplan -- Some Surprising Developments at Port St. Lucie

Maybe patience is a good thing.  Neither Brett Baty nor Mark Vientos started off Spring Training looking like they were establishing themselves at their respective and projected positions.  Then this week ended with both heating up a bit with the bats and taking swings that even Carlos Mendoza was appreciating.  

Many folks here are frustrated that the Mets did not bring in outside help for the third base and/or DH positions after having experienced putrid efforts from Baty last season and nearly as undistinguished from Vientos until he finally started playing regularly in September.  

As recently as earlier this week the media was rife with conversation about the Mets making an eleventh hour pitch to bring in superstar J.D. Martinez to take over at the DH position.  While no one would quibble with the rationale for doing so, the underlying message we keep getting from the front office is wanting to see what the in-house players are capable of doing while playing regularly and holding off on expanding the already tax-laden payroll which should get some relief in 2025 when a lot of money comes off the books.  

Not quite as vocal but still evident were some people clamoring for another Mets reunion, this time via the San Francisco Giants who just signed star fielder and legit power hitter Matt Chapman to take over at third base for them.  That contract meant their incumbent at that position who initially looked like the Mets bailed out too early -- the other J.D. -- this time Davis -- was going to be put to pasture.  

Sure enough, waivers have been asked on the power hitting man with the suspect glove and a few felt grabbing him would be a smart move.  If you consider that Mark Vientos would earn just about minimum wage and provide the same power with mediocre defense then that transaction wouldn't make a lot of sense.  Also, you would think that Davis would want a situation where he would be guaranteed regular playing time and if the front office is to be believed then such would not be the case at Citifield.

Shifting gears to the mound magicians, it would appear that the Mets are surprising everyone by leading all of baseball in ERA with a team mark around 2.75 as of Sunday morning.  Sean Manaea who recently gave up his ZZ Top appearance is in top form as is likely Opening Day starter Jose Quintana.  

Right now it would appear that Tylor Megill essentially needs to stay healthy to assure himself temporary duties as the domestic version of Kodai Senga.  Luis Severino has pitched like former All Star Luis Severino.  Old David Stearns' Milwaukee pal Adrian Houser rounds out the makeshift but commanding quintet who should be starting games for the Mets come April.

In the bullpen it has not been quite as clear.  One roster change already made that kind of caught people by surprise was the cutting of option-possessing Nate Lavender who has been brilliant this Spring.  Yes, it's possible he will be an early call up due to injury or ineffectiveness of others, but at age 24 and doing nothing but strike people out with aplomb certainly suggests that his early removal from the best of the best competition was a bit of a head scratcher.

At it is, everyone is aware that Edwin Diaz, Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley, Jake Diekman and Drew Smith are all pretty much carved in stone for the first five bullpen slots.  Assuming the Mets go with an eight man crew out there, that leaves quite a large group of contenders to fill out the remaining trio.  It's possible a Joey Lucchesi type could be needed as a multi inning reliever or spot starter.  

Newcomers like Shintaro Fujinami certainly excite folks with his electric arm, but his lackluster results in 2023, late start in 2024 and available options don't necessarily make him a lock for Opening Day.  Other pitchers David Stearns brought in this off season are probably closer to the top of the list, including Michael Tonkin, Jorge Lopez and Yohan Ramirez.  

Then there are the returning Mets like Sean Reid-Foley, Reed Garrett and Phil Bickford.  Stearns has no long term loyalty to folks he didn't recruit, so they would appear to have something of a more uphill battle. 

Injuries are beginning to heal and this coming week the folks in the Mets braintrust and the fans should get to see Jeff McNeil, Joey Lucchesi and others starting to play more regularly.