Reese Kaplan -- Maybe the Mets Need to Trade a Hot Prospect

While most of the Mets roster revamping proposals have the team either adding rentals if they’re serious about competing between now an the end of September to aspire to October baseball, or they go the other way and repeat more or less what was done in 2023 under former GM Billy Eppler when instead they traded away star caliber players to fortify a nondescript farm system to build for the future.  

Then there is a third approach that has not been discussed and perhaps it should.  Suppose you were another team looking to fortify its major league roster now and for years to come.  They look at the Mets and a see a guy who in 2023 hit 10 HRs and drove in 31 while batting .298 in just 104 ABs.  

Then you look at the stat sheet and see that in 2024 he’s hitting .294 and clubbed 8 HRs with 22 RBIs in 109 ABs.  Those are numbers that extrapolate out to 35 HRs and over 100 RBIs with a high batting average.  Isn’t this the type of player the Mets seek when they trade away veterans?  

This player of course is Brett Baty, a guy who has had the equivalent of a full season of major league ABs and have almost nothing to show for it.  His batting average in the show is just .215 with 15 HRs and 55 RBIs.  Some have wondered if he just needs a bit more seasoning.  Others think the prospect window is shutting fast as he’s been classified as more of a AAAA player.  

Throw in the hot bat of Mark Vientos since he was finally recalled from Syracuse and many have begun to wonder if Baty’s days a future 3rd baseman are already over.

So here’s the oddball idea.  

Instead of trying to shoehorn both of Baty and Vientos into the same lineup or setting up a lopsided lefty/righty platoon, maybe you make a full time commitment to one of them and peddle away the other.  At this point, defensive shortcomings granted, Vientos has shown way more capability in the majors than has Baty.  

Consequently it is easier to live with him as a part of the 2025 team than it is rolling the dice on as yet unproven Baty.  Remember you also have Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuna, Jett Williams and others behind Vientos in the minors, so it’s not like losing Baty would be insurmountable.

So coming back to the question, suppose it is the Mets who need a blue chip bullpen arm, or healthy and productive outfielders or a revamped bench.  What would it take in return from another club for the Mets to sign off on making Brett Baty a part of a trade package?

Is there risk in making this type of deal?  Absolutely!  Baty could turn out to be a Scott Rolen type with strong power and good defense.  At age 24 some regard him as young.  Others feel that failed efforts in the majors already over the past few seasons suggest he is never going to be more than an average major leaguer.  

The truth is probably somewhere in between if Baty continues to grow but Cooperstown is not likely in his future.  Towards that conclusion, I would not be averse to seeing what other clubs think of adding Baty while the Mets are ready to subtract.