MACK - MY Sunday Observations - Nick Roselli, Mike Tauchman, Tiop 10 Mets Prospectsm, Centerfield, AJ Ewing, Clay Holmes, Another Bat

 

Nick Roselli is a second baseman in the New York Mets organization, currently playing for their Single-A affiliate, the St. Lucie Mets. Born on March 31, 2003, in Levittown, New York,
Roselli is a 21-year-old left-handed batter and right-handed thrower, standing at 5'10" and weighing 200 pounds. He was selected by the Mets in the 11th round (323rd overall pick) of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Binghamton University.Background and College CareerRoselli grew up a Mets fan, frequently attending games at Citi Field, which is just 25 miles from his hometown. He played high school baseball at Division Avenue High School in Levittown and was not a highly touted prospect due to his size (initially listed at 5'9", 175 pounds) and lack of an extensive high school resume. However, he earned a spot at Binghamton University, where he became a standout player in the America East Conference.
Over three seasons at Binghamton, Roselli showcased impressive offensive skills:

• Freshman Year (2022): Slashed .307/.405/.536 with 8 home runs, 20 walks, and 30 strikeouts in 163 plate appearances.
• Sophomore Year (2023): Improved to a .357/.441/.592 line, with 29 walks and 23 strikeouts, driving in 61 runs in 229 plate appearances, the second-highest RBI total in program history.
• Junior Year (2024): Despite missing seven weeks due to a broken hamate bone, he returned to hit .388/.492/.738 with 8 home runs, 12 doubles, and 21 RBIs in 27 games (128 plate appearances), earning second-team All-Conference honors.

His college career culminated in a .349/.442/.608 slash line with 26 home runs across 115 starts, ranking him in the top 10 in the America East for batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and home runs. Roselli also played summer ball, notably with the Sanford Mainers (New England Collegiate Baseball League) and Bourne Braves (Cape Cod League), where he continued to display strong contact skills and plate discipline.Professional CareerAfter being drafted, Roselli signed with the Mets for a $150,000 contract and began his professional career with the St. Lucie Mets. 
In July 2025, he was hitting .308/.438/.385 with 8 walks, 8 strikeouts, and 2 stolen bases in Low-A, demonstrating his ability to maintain a strong approach at the plate. 
Roselli’s scouting profile highlights his offensive potential, with a classic left-handed swing, good rotational athleticism, and above-average exit velocities (90th percentile, over 92 MPH). However, his defensive skills are considered average, with stiff actions and a weaker arm that likely limits him to second base or potentially left field if he cannot stick in the infield. His speed is decent (sub-4 seconds home-to-first), but he’s not a significant base-stealing threat.Personal and Mets ConnectionRoselli’s selection by the Mets was a dream come true, given his lifelong fandom and proximity to Citi Field. Mets vice president of amateur scouting Kris Gross noted Roselli’s familiarity with the organization, having attended games and even the 2013 Home Run Derby at Citi Field. His local roots and performance at a pre-draft workout in Florida impressed the Mets’ scouting staff, leading to his selection. Roselli is the first Binghamton second baseman ever drafted and the 13th player from the program to be selected, making him the highest-drafted Bearcat in over a decade.Future OutlookRoselli is seen as a potential steal for the Mets, with his offensive upside as a contact hitter with power for a second baseman. His immediate goal is to continue developing in the minors, with the potential to play for the Mets’ Double-A affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, near his college stomping grounds. While he has not yet reached the majors and lacks MLB stats, his early professional performance suggests he could climb the Mets’ prospect ranks with continued development.
                                 Me?
Okay... first let's get done with this...
His overall stat line thing year in St. Lucie was:
                    .213/.317/.348/.655
So far, through 7-24, his stat line in Brooklyn is:
                     .133/.220/.222/.422
He also has struckout 72 times in 209 at-bats.
THere is five home runs and 32-RBI in 61 games, but followers of this guy are quick to point out what his last seven days look like...
                       .400/.571/.400/.971
I don't have Roselli on my current top 30 Mets prospect list, but this current surge has caused the Dove-man to post about him, thus make me go deeper.
On the brighter side, second base is wide open. Fellow Cyclone, "prospect" Marco Vargas is impressing no one right now. There's a couple of "Young" guys ahead of him plus D'Andre Smith. So, an open road to Queens, right?
Well... what about other young guys like Jett Williams, LuisAngel Acuna, and Ronny Mauricio?
I don't know, guys...

Top Rental Bats on the Block

https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb/rental-arms-bats-mlb-trade-deadline-candidates/

Mike Tauchman, Chicago White Sox: Might not get you much more than a PTBNL, but someone has to acknowledge that Mike Tauchman is having himself a fine season. Everyone wants to read about Luis Robert Jr., but here is Tauchman with a 141 wRC+ in 26 games.

Any team that is looking for a left-handed platoon bat that will play you solid defense in the corner outfield spots, and center field in a pinch, should be looking to add a solid vet like Tauchman.

Mets Player Development                          @MetsPlayerDev

Check out the #Mets top 10 prospects according to the latest MLBPipeline update!

 

How the Mets Should Approach the 2025 Trade Deadline

https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb/how-mets-should-buy-2025-trade-deadline/

Center Field: Upgrading Offense Without Losing Defense

The Mets’ abundance of young infield talent has allowed them to shift Jeff McNeil to center field, putting a band-aid over a serious concern which is the offense at the position. While McNeil has done fine in his new position, ideally, Stearns and Mendoza would want a true center fielder going down the stretch and into the postseason.

Tyrone Taylor, who has logged by far the most games at the position this season, has been essentially non-existent in the batter’s box, posting a 63 wRC+. As a unit, Mets center fielders have had the sixth-worst wRC+ in the game (73), adding to an already top-heavy starting nine. 

My three picks for the Mets are all on the cheaper side. Stearns’ recent media availability seemed to indicate that the team would not be in the market for a big-name star like Jarren Duran.

The acquisition of a true center fielder would allow the Mets to shift McNeil back to his native second base, leaving an open battle for the hot corner.

Potential Targets

Luis Robert Jr. – Chicago White Sox

Robert Jr. is the prototypical “buy-low” candidate for the Mets, who have made it clear they do not plan to expend a ton to upgrade offensively. Robert Jr. has been disappointing for the second consecutive season after a 38-homer campaign in 2023, slashing .206/.293/.343 in 2025. His .636 OPS is a career low, and his once prodigious power has produced just 10 home runs.

On a more positive note, Robert Jr. has hit .351 with a .982 OPS in 11 games since coming off the injured list on July 8. He is also 26-for-32 on stolen bases this season and ranks in the 84th percentile in baseball in outs above average.

Another reason why Robert fits the Mets is his ability to hit left-handed pitching. While he has struggled mightily against side-handed pitchers (.529 OPS vs. RHP), Robert is hitting .294/.422/.544, half of his 10 home runs coming against southpaws, and a 165 wRC+.

At worst, Robert Jr. is somebody who will play a strong center field and provide speed, while giving you a lefty masher even if he never figures it out to be the everyday guy.

Whichever team lands Robert Jr. will control him for two seasons after this one, but those $20 million club options are no longer very attractive when you consider his last 18 months of baseball. Instead, the $2 million buyout on the $20 million option could actually bring Robert’s price down compared to the typical rental.

New York has been tied to Robert Jr., with MLB Insider Bob Nightengale saying Thursday that, “the Phillies like Robert, but not as much as the Mets do.”

Harrison Bader – Minnesota Twins

A year after signing him as a free agent, could the Mets be interested in a reunion with the Hudson Valley native?

Bader’s glove is among the best in baseball, and the only reason he is playing so much left field this year is because he is flanked by Byron Buxton up the middle. By trade, Bader is a top-five defensive center fielder in the game. 

He is also enjoying arguably his best offensive season in Minnesota, posting a 109 OPS+ and 12 home runs, just four shy of a career high. With Bader, you keep the defensive excellence that Taylor provides, but nearly double the offensive output.

A 31-year-old rental, Bader will be one of the cheaper offensive options on the market, and since the Twins possess other assets (we’ll get to that later), can be packaged in a deal to Queens.

Cedric Mullins – Baltimore Orioles

Mullins, like Bader, is another true rental as he is set to hit free agency after the season. The Orioles will be selling, and Mullins is one of their best candidates to be shipped off.

He is mired in a difficult season with both the bat and glove, posting just a 95 OPS+ while his OAA has dropped every season since 2022. He provides suitors with a lefty bat, which neither of the two names above does, but otherwise does not offer much more than Bader.

Ultimately, I think Mullins is the worst fit of the three for the Mets, but it will all come down to the various asking prices.

ing

One player from each MLB franchise who will be wearing a new uniform by July 31

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6510092/2025/07/25/one-player-traded-mlb-deadline/

New York Mets

A.J. Ewing

CF

A fourth-round pick out of high school in 2023, Ewing has done nothing but hit over the last calendar year. Sent in the spring to repeat Low A, he earned a promotion before April was up and has carried a .400 on-base percentage over three months in High A. He’s precisely the kind of appealing top-20 prospect the Mets have lacked at recent deadlines.

                A lot of followers here would not be happy to see AJ packing his gloves and bats.

 

Mets mailbag

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6514282/2025/07/24/mets-trade-deadline-clay-holmes-mark-vientos-lineup/

Do the Mets plan to use Holmes as a reliever at some point to monitor his innings and strengthen the pen? — Jordan B.

Tim: At the moment, the Mets believe Holmes can do what Luis Severino and Sean Manaea did last season: blow past a reasonable innings expectation and remain effective into October as a starting pitcher. If the postseason started tomorrow, Holmes would be part of the rotation (though maybe in a piggyback situation with Frankie Montas). So as the Mets contemplate what bullpen additions they need to make in the next week, they’re not mentally including Holmes as a reliever for October.

Now, Severino and Manaea obviously hit a wall in last year’s NLCS, and it sure is possible that Holmes, whose innings jump is going to be considerably bigger than the jumps those two veteran starters experienced, could hit that wall earlier. If he does and it shows in the results, that’s when the Mets will more seriously consider talking with Holmes about a move to the pen. But it’s not something they’re planning to do pre-emptively.

Will: Like Tim said, I haven’t heard anything to suggest that moving Holmes to the bullpen is part of some grand plan regarding the trade deadline. However, I wouldn’t rule out the Mets trying to control Holmes’ innings at some point, whether that is with shorter starts or in the bullpen.

Besides center field, is there any possibility of the Mets adding another bat? — Balthazar I. 

Will: Based on my own reporting and Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns’ comments during his news conference Monday, it doesn’t seem like adding a position player is a high priority. At third base, they feel good about what they have in young infielders Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and Vientos. If anything, it might be time to make things less crowded. As I reported Monday, the Mets are open to trading from their group of young infielders (which includes Luisangel Acuña). With Jeff McNeil playing some center field and with some at-bats at designated hitter up for grabs, the Mets — for the most part — are making playing time between the young infielders work. A trade for a center fielder, which is something they should strongly consider, changes the dynamic and plants McNeil more firmly at second base.