I promised
all of you that, as soon as the season ended, I would breakout and post my
current Top 30 prospects.
This is
performance based, not players that came to the Mets full of promise but have
only produced butterscotch pudding. A perfect example of a player that didn’t
make this list is catcher Ronald Hernandez.
I still like the guy, but based on what he did in 2025, I don’t like him “top
30 guy”.
Nolan
McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah
Tong (maybe) are not on this list. They have
graduated.
I will post
them in each of my weekly Observations and In Focus posts… one player at a
time… beginning with #30.
Today, we
move to #13:
13. 1B Ryan Clifford
2025: 481-AB, .237, 29-HR,
93-RBI, .826-OPS
Ryan Clifford
is a highly regarded prospect in the New York Mets organization, known for his
left-handed power-hitting potential and plate discipline.
At just 22
years old (born July 20, 2003, in Raleigh, NC), he's positioned as a corner
infielder/outfielder with first base as his primary spot, and he's emerging as
a key piece of the Mets' future lineup—potentially stepping in at 1B if Pete Alonso leaves in free agency.
Clifford was
a standout at Pro5 Academy (now Combine Academy) in North Carolina, where he
committed to Vanderbilt University. Scouts praised his track record of hitting,
but his age (slightly older for the class) and uneven junior/senior stats
caused him to slip in the 2022 MLB Draft.
Drafted by
Astros: Selected in the 11th round (No. 326 overall) by the Houston Astros.
They signed him for an over-slot bonus of $1,256,530—equivalent to a
second-round pick—to buy him out of his college commitment. This aggressive
move highlighted his upside as a bat-first prospect.
Clifford's
path to New York came via a blockbuster deadline deal on August 1, 2023:Traded
from the Astros to the Mets along with outfielder Drew
Gilbert in exchange for ace pitcher Justin
Verlander (and cash considerations).
At the time,
Clifford was tearing up High-A Asheville, slashing .271/.356/.547 with 16 HR in
58 games. The trade package was seen as a coup for the Mets, with Clifford as
more than just a throw-in—he was already a top Astros prospect.
Clifford has
rocketed through the minors since signing, showcasing plus power and elite walk
rates, though strikeouts
remain a work in progress.
Led all
Double-A hitters with 23 HR total (including brief Triple-A stint); improved
consistency.
Promoted late
2024; strong barrel rate (top MiLB prospect metric) suggests MLB readiness by
mid-2026.
Power
Profile: Clifford's swing generates elite exit velocities and barrel rates,
projecting 25-30 HR potential at the MLB level. He's a fringe runner with
adequate corner OF defense and solid arm strength, but 1B is his likely
long-term home.
MLB ETA:
Likely mid-2026, starting in Triple-A Syracuse. If Alonso departs after opting
out of his contract, Clifford could compete for the 1B job outright. Fans and
analysts see him as a "bat-first" cornerstone with 20-25 HR upside,
though refining contact skills will be key.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6757524/2025/10/29/mets-fan-survey-results-2025/
How would you like the Mets to approach Edwin Díaz?
33% Make him a Met for life
64% Offer him one additional year on top of
the two he's opting out of
3% Let him walk
Although more
fans placed Díaz as the No. 1 priority than Alonso, fewer want to make him a
Met for life — likely the result of his playing the most volatile position in
the sport.
Mets fan
survey results
Which of the
following players would you consider “untouchable” in a trade for a front-line
starter? (Check all that apply.)
Nolan McLean 95%
Carson Benge 42%
Jett Williams 33%
Jonah Tong 28%
Brandon Sproat 25%
This is the
first indication of how strongly Mets fans feel about McLean — and I do wonder
how different the percentages would be had I included Skubal and/or Skenes in
the previous question.
Ca-Ching! Baseball America predicts big
contracts for the top NY Mets free agents
What Baseball America projects the top 5 Mets
free agents earn on their next contract
Tyler Rogers - 3 years, $44 million
Everywhere seems convinced Tyler Rogers will
get paid. A contract of this magnitude probably has him landing somewhere other
than Queens. This, again, feels like a case of a year too long. Rogers is 35
and not a closer. Durable and consistent, he’ll price himself out of David
Stearns’ plans if this is the asking price.
Yankees should show interest in this Mets
pitcher in offseason
The New York Yankees aren’t in the market for
a starting pitcher. However, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt will all miss Opening Day while recovering
from surgery. This leaves the starting rotation with Max Fried, Luis Gil, Will Warren and Cam Schlittler along
with top prospects Carlos Lagrange and Elmer-Rodriguez Cruz. If the Yankees added Senga, he could fill
in for the injured Yankee trio before being converted into a reliever.
A move to the bullpen may help preserve Senga
in the face of his durability issues. Senga has never pitched more than 166.1
innings in a season, but when healthy, he is almost unhittable. If needed, he
can be a hybrid starter/reliever.
The Yankees had significant bullpen problems
this past year, posting a 4.37 ERA in the regular season and a 6.15 ERA in the
postseason. The Bombers also have no shortage of holes to fill, with Jonathan Loaisiga, Luke
Weaver, Paul Blackburn, Devin Williams and Ryan Yarbrough wading into free agency. This experiment
would be similar to the move the Los Angeles Dodgers made with Roki Sasaki, who
found success as a closer.
If the Mets are willing to shop Senga after
another lost year, any team willing to make an offer might acquire a true
diamond in the rough. For the Yankees, adding Senga’s splitter to their shallow
bullpen could be the move of the offseason.
NY Mets at risk of losing first-round draft
pick for nothing next month
Unless the Mets protect Kevin Parada on
their 40-man roster in the coming days, he’ll be up for grabs
The Mets could always trade Parada before the
November 18 deadline, but any team acquiring him would be in the same boat. So
unless they’d immediately add him to their 40-man roster, it’s an unlikely
best-case scenario. His trade value is minimal.
His .754 OPS in Double-A was promising.
However, it dropped to .567 in 64 plate appearances in Triple-A. He hasn’t
developed into much of a hitter at all to the point where becoming serviceable
would feel like a victory.
The question for the Mets is whether or not
he’s worth a 40-man roster spot. Considering they already have Hayden Senger there,
things would get clogged up quickly with four catchers. It wouldn’t be logical
outside of some kind of change. Senger might be someone they would dangle on
the waiver wire, but for the sake of keeping Parada on the 40-man roster, it
seems to go against the kinds of moves Stearns made in the past with prospects
and the Rule 5 Draft. There was room to protect Vasil and Dom Hamel (who
wasn’t claimed) last year.
Prior to 2024, the Mets added prospect Alex Ramirez to
their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft with the belief that
maybe a team would steal him. Ramirez had another disappointing season
thereafter and is no longer with the club after spending a part of the 2025
campaign with them. This is one of the ways the Parada saga could always end.
Good catching help is hard to find. A team
with an opening and maybe even a plan of employing three catchers regularly in
2026 could always clear some room. Expecting him to last the full season in the
majors might be a difficult task. Last year, the second pick in the Rule 5
Draft was Liam
Hicks of the Miami Marlins. He hit .247 in 119 games. Anyone
willing to take a chance on Parada will need to have faith he’s a capable
defender which is another one of those questions the Mets aren’t so sure about
either.
NY
Mets Monday Morning GM: 3 changes David Stearns will have a hard time selling fans
1) Going light at first base isn’t going to
make us feel good
Opinions will vary about what the Mets should
do at first base. Many would be fine re-signing Pete Alonso. Who doesn’t like
familiarity? Munetaka
Murakami is incredibly intriguing yet worrisome because we have
never seen him perform against MLB pitching for a full season.
Those two power-hitting options are likely
the favorite choice of most Mets fans. What if Stearns passes on them both?
There are some options that might satisfy. Cody Bellinger is a
free agent who could be signed to play a lot of first base while also giving
them assistance in center field. It’s those much lesser options that’ll have
fans enraged. This includes everything from the internal decision of moving
Mark Vientos to the position or signing a guy just for his defense.
Run prevention is important, but the Mets
lose a lot if they allow Alonso to walk and don’t replace his offense. His 126
RBI won’t be easy to come by. How much could be made up by a defensive player
robbing opponents with his glove?
Going lighter at first base isn’t something
Mets fans are used to. Even prior to Alonso, the Mets have been a franchise to
regularly employ All-Star level players at the position.
MetCast @MetCastPod
I’ve been saying this for months — multiple
people inside the Mets organization have told me that Carson Benge is
the apple of their eye and was considered “untouchable” at this year’s trade
deadline. I also reported that he could be competing for a roster spot as early
as this spring training.
MACK – If this was
true, it will change everything immediately about the immediate future of the
Mets outfield. Your starters out of cam could be Benge, Brandon Nimmo, and Juan Soto, moving Tyrone Taylor
to a late inning defensive move in right
35 comments:
I agree on Benge as an opening day possibility.
If Clifford is more plate-aggressive, he can tear up AAA this year. A possible Jay Bruce?
I'm really rooting hard for Cliffy this spring
Clifford struck out 61 times in 48 April and May games. Thereafter, 87 times in 91 games. Real progress there.
I’d protect Parada before Senger. Senger cannot hit. Parada might. I like Torrens….keep him.
Giving. Range every opportunity out of camp is the only thing that makes sense. He may need more development time, but probably not an entire season, and Stearns has been clear that he doesn’t want to block their top prospects.
I do have hope for Clifford as a real big league power bat - whether for the Mets or someone else. This will be a big season for him. .260 with 40 HR in AAA this season wouldn’t surprise me. Though neither would .220 with 180K. We shall see.
That should read “Giving Benge every opportunity…”
If Jett is a private jet, then Benge is a Jumbo Jet. I’m riding the jumbo.
I bet we will see Benge, Williams, tong, & Sproat sooner than later in some capacity next year. Christian Scott too.
Regarding first base: I believe that the options on the free agent market all have their shortfalls.
Alonso - his defense and the belief that he will not age well making a long-term contract questionable
Bellinger - his home / away splits. Are his numbers inflated from playing in Yankee Stadium and the numbers may not translate to Citi Field.
Murakami - Although he has the power, his stick-out numbers are alarming. He is prone to swing and misses against top fast balls (don't remember the number, but top fast balls are fast balls over 95+ mph.) Can he make the transition or just an all or nothing hitter?
Naylor - Probably the better overall hitter but without the power. Probably upper half 20s homers. Average defender. Projections are a shorter length contract (4 years).
Bichette - Although not a first baseman, he is projected as needing to move off of short with a shift to either third, or more likely second. Can he make the transition to first? Could he be a younger version of Naylor but on a longer contract (10+ years)?
Clifford - will probably start the year on AAA with a later season promotion. His stick-out numbers are also a concern.
My opinion is to either resign Alonso for a short-term contract (4 years) and live with the lacking defense, or sign Naylor. Signing Naylor then will then require the need to obtain a significant right-hand batter. Would have lefty hitting Soto, Nimmo, Naylor, Batty with Benge possibly sometime during the year. (Unless one thinks Vientos can be that bat). (Replacing one with two?)
I disagree here.
Parada is no longer a prospect.
And he couldn't catch a cold
(I;ve been told that Scott is ready, but will first comeout of the pen to build up arm strength)
Souds great on paper but I had to help Boras off the floor laughing on the 4 year offer
I am also thinking Riemer and Morabito later in the year. A number of pitchers could be making load noise as well. After reading Tom's 6 - 10 prospects and speculating 1-5 prospects, I was left thinking that there is a great possibility of most getting promotions and possibly making positive contributions.
I think you would need help. It is not you, but Boras would be rolling all over the floor in hysterical screams.
I can understand why Jett was prioritized over Tong as untouchable but personally Mclane, Benge, Tong are my untouchable trio in that order. I really do like Jett and Sproat and think they’ll be above average to great MLB regulars but they’re the ones im willing to part with as the headline for Scrubal or some other big trade. Jett is great but I’m a heightist i guess when it comes to MLB players a bit. Sproat i think is more developed than Tong but i think Ton’s ceiling is much higher.
Here’s a kicker. Whats if Sproat / Jett / others not named Mclane, Benge and Tong are packaged in a deal for Kettle Marte?
Would you do that. Lock down 2nd base and figure out the rotation almost totally on the FA market? Lindor, Marte, Soto, Nimmo would be nuts. If we resign Pete it would be lindor, marte, soto, pete, nimmo. The fabulous 4 would become the fabulous 5.
Here comes Debbie Downer to the conversation...wha, wha, wha.
1. It would be a lot of pressure on Benge to make the OD roster. Let's not forget he hit .191 in AAA.
2. The impact to losing Alonso. With adding Benge and Clifford (nowhere near ready) to the lineup we would be overloaded with lefties. Except for Alverez and Lindor, everyone else hits left handed. Theres no possible way you can compete with that kind of lineup.
3. If Alonso leaves you have to obtain a right handed power bat. Can we count on Vientos?
There ya go trading top prospects
I'm betting on what is bubbling in the chain
(can I still.the word "bet"?)
What what wha... all the way to the cheap seats
First call this morning of if I were David Stearns would be to the Cleveland Guardians and ask what it would take to get Jose Ramirez. I would think a package of Baty, Jett, Peterson, Wenniger and Gutierrez is a good starting point?
That would solve your righty bat behind Soto problem.
Also I saw an interesting trade idea this morning, Senga for Angels Jo Adell. I would throw in Vientos and Chris SUERO to make it happen.
Sign the Japanese starter and Ranger Suarez for rotation, sign Cody Bellinger.for first base and resign Diaz for the bullpen.
What do you all think?
Lineup would be something like this
Lindor
Belliger
Soto
Ramirez
Adell
Nimmo (I would consider trading him if possible)
Alvarez
McNiel (would try and trade him as well)
Benge
We can shuffle the DH with any of these roster guys and keep people fresh
Benge's poor slashline in AAA is a bit misleading. His underlying metrics (which is what teams look at when trading or promoting) were great.
At any rate, the issue isn't the handedness of players per se. Our team has been bad at hitting LHPs, but there are LHHs who can hit LHPs. Alonso has reverse splits and doesn't do well against LHPs despite being a RHH.
O'Hearn (a LHH) has reverse splits as well, and a trade for Yandy Diaz as a stopgap at 1B or a DH is another option.
You guys realize that if you have Alonso, and he isn’t playing first base every day, you have an unhappy player?
At catcher, defense rules. Parada is not a good defender. Bite the bullet and turn him into a first baseman and see if he could become Mike Napoli or Mike Sweeney.
Katel Marte is 31 years old with big money coming up. He is going downward, not upward. Stop with the has beens. Arizona fans love him; like you guys love Pete.
Let Rogers go. First, he is 35 and more injury prone. That money is for a closer not a middle innings guy without a strikeout pitch.
Second, he is a part of the stench from last year that can be set free. Bringing him back will only be a daily reminder.
Maybe Reimer DH
fields worse than Parada
Good idea
Large pepperoni to go
Dylan Ross
+1
Amen
The new defensive-minded Mets will not promote Parada, who has a below-average arm and weak defensive stats.
I think it is telling that although he has come up as a first baseman, he has seen considerable playing time as a corner outfielder. The defense at 1B is not good enough, so only a real power bat and low K rate will get him a MLB corner outfield job.
All aboard!
Don't forget that Jett WIlliams is still very young. He turned 22 this month. With the Mets continuously improving player development system, he can be much more than he already is. That is worth protecting!
Reports are that Reimer has improved his defense. Gold Glover, no way in heck. Should be more than able to hold his own at the infield corners
Ross, Scott, maybe Peterson could all be in the OD BP.
Diaz, Minter, Raley, Alazlon, Scott, Ross, new RHRP, new LHRP, Peterson - after someone gets promoted to get things started. Some new, some old, some fringe plus experienced guys with options (brazabon, kranack, etc. & s few more developing guys on the bench).
My brother, on prospects not named McLean or Benge? Trade them, get Skubal. He wants to WIN.
Post a Comment