Reese Kaplan -- New Lineup Configurations and Perhaps a Trade

Sometimes it seems easy being a manager where you make decisions about a game you love in the attempt to win more games than your opponents do.  Other times it’s a frustrating experience where you must reconcile career numbers, veteran statuses, youth opportunities and riding the hot hands.  These days are certainly challenging for Carlos Mendoza.

One issue right now is how to juggle the suddenly hot Mark Vientos, Brett Baty and Jeff McNeil while simultaneously finding playing opportunities for speedy Luisangel Acuna.  With Jose Siri and Jesse Winker out with injuries and Starling Marte still sub-Mendoza in his offense, it makes these decisions a little bit easier.  

The one wildcard factor in all of these permutations is Tyrone Taylor whose defense, base running and surprisingly solid hitting of late make him more than a 4th outfielder.

In Monday’s opening game against the Pirates the Mets put together an interesting lineup with Jeff McNeil taking over in center field, Luisangel Acuna starting at second base, Brett Baty manning third base and Mark Vientos taking his turn at DH.  

As the game evolved eventually Baty was sat in a lefty/righty switch for Tyrone Taylor who took over in center field with McNeil moving to his more familiar position at second base and Acuna shifting across to play third base in place of Baty. 

What’s interesting is that this configuration with Vientos at DH is long what I’d advocated despite the predominant MLB preference to make older ballplayers with poor defensive skills the primary DH.  If they think Baty is the hot hand offensively and usually sure-handed defensively, then Vientos can concentrate on what he does best which is hitting the ball.  He did so twice in this game against one of the more formidable pitchers in the game the first time around with Paul Skenes on the mound for the Pirates.

While I’m not convinced Jeff McNeil is the best center field option for the club, it is good to figure out the way to get all four of these players into the lineup at the same time.  

The odd men out — Tyrone Taylor, Starling Marte and Jose Azocar — will simply have to suck it up and play their best when asked to do so while Mendoza continues to manipulate the pieces he has to try to put the most potent team on the field despite pushing others into role player status. 

There has been a lot of space being devoted to various configurations of a Chicago White Sox trade for under performing center fielder Luis Robert, Jr.  Yes, he has a Gold Glove and yes, he has a 38 HR season on the back of his baseball card which earned him an All Star berth and a Silver Slugger. 

Unfortunately he’s a very streaky type of hitter who has problems with chasing balls out of the strike zone.  In addition he’s currently ailing with a sore right knee and he’s in the midst of a contract that’s not onerous but it’s hardly chump change.  In 2025 he’s supposed to get $15 million and then the acquiring team has him at $20 million in 2026 and again in 2027 at the same salary or be obligated either year to pay him a $2 million buyout. 

Looking at his career numbers he appears to be a 10-15 HR per year hitter with a career batting average of .262 with excellent base running speed including being well on his way to more than 40 SBs this season.  Is he worth what he’s being paid?  Probably not.  Can the Mets correct this batting flaws to make him into a long term center field option?  No one knows.

The price most often asked by the White Sox in written reports is pitching prospect Blade Tidwell.  He has a career minor league record of 15-22 with a 4.18 ERA and was slammed in his one major league start earlier this season.  

Frankly, if he and some lower level unknown prospect is what it would take to land Robert, Jr. then it’s a risk likely worth taking as Tidwell has pitched himself out of the upper echelon of Mets starting pitchers in the minors.  However, if it came to pass that it was not enough then I’d probably wish the White Sox well and pass on the deal.