While most of the news these days is about the Mets somewhat reinforced starting rotation and the on-again/off-again prospect of returning Pete Alonso to Queens, there’s another area in which the club has made precious little progress. Who is going to be the Designated Hitter?
Now bear in mind that ever since the National League implemented the DH role back in 2022, the Mets haven’t exactly had anyone deliver stand out results. Kindly disregard failed options like Daniel Vogelbach, Darin Ruf and other AAAA types. In theory upgrading to Jesse Winker and proven DH J.D. Martinez was on paper a huge step forward, but their combined efforts still fell short of what had been hoped.
Going into 2025 neither Winker nor Martinez are on the Mets roster, there is no first baseman, no full time capable center fielder and no backup infielders. For today we’ll gloss over the as yet to be constructed bullpen and simply focus on who might get that role for the club moving forward.
In House Options
Starling Marte is expensive trade bait and will cost the Mets probably half or more of his salary to get someone to accept him in trade. If David Stearns can’t find another team interested in that kind of transaction, then he’s your default DH as he has been an All Star, has 20 HR power when healthy and 40+ stolen base capability. With his declining outfield defense and his problems avoiding the IL the DH role might turn out to be suitable for a 36 year old veteran.
Mark Vientos put together a magical 2024 season offensively. Defensively, well, his hitting made up for some of his shortcomings. While most feel that the DH role should belong to senior ballplayers, if instead you allow Vientos to concentrate exclusively on improving his hitting to the next level, then the Mets might have someone in the mold of Edgar Martinez (though it would take a lot of stellar seasons to draw a parallel).
Not to be forgotten, you also have Luisangel Acuna, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio as well
Top of the Free Agent Class
Teoscar Hernandez was an expensive one-year option for the Dodgers in the outfield but they sure got their money’s worth. In 2024 Hernandez hit .272 with 33 HRs, 99 RBIs and even a dozen stolen bases. Though he’s always been an outfielder, he might relish taking on the bat-only role but understand he earned over $24 million last year. He’s going to want multiple years at an increase in pay.
Anthony Santander has always been on the periphery of being a great player, but he chose his free agent walk year to demonstrate how good he can be. In 2024 he hit just .235 but clubbed 44 HRs and drove in 102. That was done for the relatively modest price of $11.7 million. He’ll get a bump in pay for sure but not likely in the Hernandez range. (And for those who weren’t noticing, those run production numbers would beat out a certain Polar Bear). As a switch hitter you would only need one DH, not a platoon.
Retreads
J.D. Martinez did not have an awful year in 2024 but it was no match for what he did in 2023. He finished the season with a .235 average, 16 HRs and 69 RBIs. The numbers are not great but also not typical of what he can do. His run production was delivered playing about 80% of the time.
Jesse Winker was a late season arrival who chose to put together some of his most memorable play during the drive towards the NLCS. His offensive numbers were very similar to what Martinez provided with the addition of some stolen bases achieved for Washington before coming to New York. If combined you could get 30 HRs and 90 RBIs in a platoon it would not be bad, but there’s no guarantee it would happen.
More Make-Do Free Agents
Jurickson Profar has been a top prospect for a long time but never really seemed to live up to the projected potential. However, in 2024 for the Padres he hit .280 with 24 HRs, 85 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The switch hitter is going to play 2025 at age 32. His numbers suggest a bit more power than Marte with less speed, but considering he played 2024 for a salary of just $1 million, he could be a low priced option if they find a taker for Marte.
Gleyber Torres is a man for whom the role of DH was created. He can hit. No one has ever questioned that but his defense is at best a work in progress. So if you take him off the field and say just focus on your batting skills, he could be an interesting find. In 2024 he hit 15 HRs and drove in 63 while hitting .257. In his best ever year he knocked 38 HRs and drove in 90 while hitting .278. A change of scenery deal for the currently 27 year old poor infielder could make for an interesting long term DH solution. Besides, how nice would it be to have Torres perform alongside another ex-Yankee playing right field?
The other options for DH would have to come via trade, but that’s another topic for another day.
5 comments:
I considered Winker and JD Martinez in my 9:00 article today, but came up with a possible cheaper option to allow more spending for a pen upgrade like Tanner Scott.
The guys you mention are well chosen and rightly broken down as their potential and possibilities. When every dollar spent may end up doubled due to the luxury tax, though, finding cheaper effective options rather than long contracts at big bucks is smart, to not be hamstrung when the likes of Vlad Jr come along (assuming he does not sign an extension with Toronto). Just one note for Stearns/Cohen: never do "cheaper" like a Wilpon...the Wilpon's goal of meaningful September baseball is far too timid and half-hearted. We now expect victorious October baseball.
What about Vientos as DH, then filling 3B with Mauricio and 1B with someone competent but not necessarily a megastar. Remember we employed a wide variety of people in that capacity. Sometimes they excel like John Olerud (still better than Hernandez in my book). Sometimes we got folks quite a bit less productive.
The best offensive player without a position on the Mets remains Marte. After Marte, I would mind an expensive player that another team wants to unload and may be a good deal for the Mets, i.e. Luis Arraez.
How about Marte for Montgomery straight up. Or for Arrenado, straight up this year and they pay down some on final 2 years. Throw in a low level prospect.
It seems a little odd that there has never been any real Marte for Montgomery rumors. It looks like a perfect fit for both clubs. Marte is rather spare parts on the Mets, there is a lot of baggage around Montgomery in Arizona. The D-Backs have one right handed bat in their outfield depth charts, and one guy on their depth chart for DH who is the same guy as the only second baseman.
Marte for Arenado is not a fit at all. The Cardinals are trying to get younger.
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