Reese Kaplan -- Who Will Be in the 2022 Mets Infield?

As the New York Mets move into their second season under Steve Cohen's ownership, there are a great many questions to be answered.  Obviously there are the which free agents are retained and who are allowed to depart?  The questions about the starting rotation and the bullpen are obvious.  Then there is the outfield and who will be patrolling there?  However, the most compelling question to consider is that after Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor, who will be on the infield?

The names already here are well known and each have their share of pros and cons when you analyze how well they fit in.  Assuming the AAAA types like Travis Blankenhorn and Brandon Drury are not a part of the formula, let's have a look at who remains:

Javy Baez

It's going to take a mega deal to land Lindor's preferred double play partner and from what fans have seen there's no denying the man's talent.  However, his low batting average, high strikeout totals and his cost to acquire makes me think they will let him walk away.  They have the option right now of securing him before he hits free agency and there are no whispers about the club doing that.  There's no compensation when he walks away and the players lost to acquire him wouldn't hurt so much if he was a long term Met, but it just doesn't seem to be good business given everyone else who needs to be paid as well.

Robinson Cano

To hear a great many fans tell it, the Mets will simply buy him out and let him leave Queens with his last playing memories actually being good ones from the pandemic shortened 2020 season.  While that scenario has a certain "Don't cheat!" hint of fan revenge, the fact is his salary obligations for 2022 and 2023 will still count against payroll.  I think the more likely maneuver is to bring him back in anticipation of the DH becoming part of the National League as well.  You have your share of the old Seattle contract obligating you to over $40 million on your payroll bottom line over the next two seasons.  Not getting anything in return and still laying out the money seems more spiteful than rightful.  

J.D. Davis

Well, when he was healthy J.D. Davis showed fans that 2019 was not just an outlier.  He is hitting over .290 with some flashes of power.  Unfortunately, the injuries to his hands have rendered him into at best a pinch hitting option (and not a particularly good one).  Many fans think his poor defense and lack of a clear position mean he should be traded away.  However, those same detriments will still be there for his new club and despite his low salary there's not likely to be much of a return.  I still think the club will at some point see if he could be their own DH if they do manage to release or do a bad-contract-for-bad-contract trade of Cano, so I think you keep him around for a healthy year which would dramatically increase his value both to the Mets and as a trade prospect during or after 2022.  

Luis Guillorme

His positional versatility sometimes overshadows the fact that he's upped his offensive output in the major leagues.  He's hitting .281 after being north of .300 in the shortened 2020 season.  Without power or speed and with the presence of Francisco Lindor at his primary position of shortstop, it would seem Guillorme is welcome back but again as a bench warmer.  

Jeff McNeil

Positional versatility may be what keeps McNeil out of the infield as much as the great many other options out there.  His bat will come around again and he is quite popular with Mets fans despite his poor 2021 output.  Trading him now would be dealing at the his performance nadir and would be pretty poor business.  Remember, he was a career .319 hitter before this season.  You don't just give up on that kind of hitting.  

Mark Vientos

The now 21-year-old third baseman spent most of the year at Binghamton where he delivered a .281 average and 22 home runs in only 306 ABs.  Those kinds of numbers make a front office drool, particularly when they would be accompanied by a league minimum paycheck.  Still, he is likely to start 2022 in Syracuse but will be on a fast track to the majors if he can replicate his productivity against a higher level of pitching.  They also might decide whether he remains at 3B or if he converts into an outfield slot since the club is weaker there than in the infield.  

Jonathan Villar

As difficult as it might be to watch Javy Baez walk out the Citifield door forever, in some ways it might be even harder to see Jonathan Villar do the same thing.  He's pitched in all around the infield and thus far delivered 18 HRs and a dozen stolen bases in two thirds worth of a season-long total of ABs.  His price will surely rise pretty dramatically from his 2021 paycheck of $3.55 million.  He's never been an All Star nor vied for the end-of-year awards, but he's deliver 2.3 WAR (worth well north of $16 millon).  Even if he demands doubling his paycheck, he's a high value player to have on your bench even if he's not starting on a daily basis.  

There are no clear cut yes or no answers here.  As much as they should cut Baez loose and would like to see Cano follow him out the door, neither one is a guarantee to happen.  J.D. Davis, when healthy, can certainly handle the bat but he is born to DH.  McNeil is still cheap enough to keep around and Guillorme will surely resume his backup role. Mark Vientos is the real wildcard here and there are probably fans who want to see him rushed up to Queens.  Of course, the possibility of outside help still exists with some notable names available as free agents or via trade.