As many of us spend far too many hours debating buy vs. sell, breaking up the corps vs. playing the kids, the glut of starters and the (until Wednesday anyway) the, uh, throw-in-the-towel bullpen. None of us know what is going to happen for sure, but the two recent massage-the-roster types of transactions did little to convince the optimists nor the nay-sayers about what is going to happen with the roster for the remainder of this year.
Instead of doing a lot of this same territory once agian, let’s look a bit about who should be on the 2025 roster. We’re not going to cover the territory of the trades they could make, the free agents who will walk away nor the several players auditioning for David Stearns next DFA order. So, assuming it is spring training in 2025. Who is on the team from within the current ranks?
Many folks forget all about ACL-injured Ronny Mauricio. Here’s a quick refresher. Back in 2023 he delivered a .292 batting average with 23 HRs and 24 SBs in under 500 ABs. If he’s fully healed (and there’s no reason to believe he won’t be), his offensive production would be most welcome considering how little the club has gotten from the second base position.
Brett Baty also has gaudy numbers in AAA, but after having had the aggregate of a full season’s worth of time in the majors he hasn’t been able to complete the transition. Personally, if an opening occurs in the infield or at DH between now and the end of July I would like to see Baty get another 60 games worth of major league ABs. The good news is he could try to establish himself as a future member of the Mets. The bad news would be another set of struggles which would likely eliminate his value as a trade chip.
Now Luisangel Acuna is a bit of a wildcard here. No one questions his speed. He earlier in his career eclipsed the 40 SB mark and last season combined between the Rangers and Mets minors he swiped 57. For his minor league career he’s a .281 hitter with modest power. He struggled most of the year in AAA but lately has kicked it into gear and got his average up to .259.
The stolen bases are there and he might pass the 10 HR mark this year. Think for a minute what the speed of Acuna and Mauricio in addition to Francisco Lindor could do to opposing teams trying to defend against the Mets.
Mark Vientos will be somewhere in 2025 but no one is sure if he would stay at 3B, go across to 1B if needed or assume the role as a very young DH kept on the payroll primarily for his bat.
Here it’s a bit murkier. Yes, Brandon Nimmo will be around. So too might Starling Marte who has his final contract year coming up in 2025. After that it’s uncertain.
Further down in the minors 20 year old Ryan Clifford started putting it together in June and has people understanding his high prospect ranking, but with the early season output and his youth, at best he’ll start in AAA or repeat AA early before getting promoted to Syracuse later on.
Drew Gilbert has had a missing-in-action year due to hamstring problems. As such, while it’s nice to think about what he could do as he advances. In 2023 he hit .289 with 18 HRs and a dozen stolen bases over a combined two-team season with 433 ABs.
Thus far after starting in AAA he put up only 25 ABs after the year began before hitting the IL. At age 23 he’s likely targeted to begin 2025 in AAA again until he shows he is healthy, capable and ready to face a higher level of pitching.
The other minor league outfielders fit more into the backup outfielder role with the exception of Jett Williams who, like Gilbert, has been out of action nearly the entire year. Depending on what the club does on the infield, it might push Gilbert into an OF role full time with AA and AAA ahead of him long before he sniffs Citifield.
Tomorrow we will take a look at the pitching picture for the Mets, examining who might enter the starting rotation and who could be an asset in the bullpen. It’s not a particularly shiny group but a few are most definitely worth evaluating.
12 comments:
Gilbert’s first rehab game in CF yesterday. At long last.
Mauricio? I hope his MCL is 100% mended and allows him to play 2B. I personally would rather see him in the outfield. I think his error rate in the infield has just been below major league standards. Ventos fixed is Fielding, can Mauricio fix his?
Clifford has had a great hot stretch lately, and perhaps he will be ready by mid 2025. If, of course, his recent Hot streak is a sign of improvement, and just not being hot for a short stretch
Yes, Gilbert and Reimer were back last night in the FCL, but there is more to consider: McNeil? Marte? You can’t just jettison players under contract. What if they re-sign Alonso?
I had hoped both Gilbert and Clifford would be in the OD 2025 lineup but I now don't see either will be ready.
Tex, recent events may have changed how the Mets approach the future.
Both Marte and McNeil may have a future with this team while prospects begin to surround them
McNeil may find himself back on second while Mauricio gets up to speed
Marte may join Nimmo and Acuña in the outfield
Mack, I don’t see it either and that’s ok.
Here is my dilemma as a fan:
Do I want the Mets to trade Alonso for a nice package, or not? On one hand, he can get hot and carry you, which is awesome. On the other hand, he has checked out this year and with both his play and comments from the other players not even mentioning his name when it comes to leaders, you know he is gone. So, take the long term assets or the short term possible benefit and also not hurt team morale? I come and go on that?
Then, you move to Severino, who may have peaked….
Mack, I would trade Marte. Having a good leader at DH has spoiled me, I’d like it again. Marte is no leader. He isn’t a problem necessarily, but isn’t what I would want. If they don’t sign Martinez, I would consider keeping Marte.
The injury to Marte has severely reduced Marte's trade value
I don't see Alonso returning if you allow him to test the waters
Thus, trade him for multiple chips
Better talks of who to trade for, and trade away, while having playoff hopes, than a dumpster fire with no playoff hopes.
For a hair over .500 the team needs to be realistic. If they don't see making and progressing in October then capitalize as best you can by month's end.
The Mets were 24-35, and 22-10 since. In 2024, the Braves were 23-27 after 50 games, then got hot. They stayed hot. Why can’t the Mets, with some tweaks?
Barring a massive hot streak that carries the team on a long postseason run, I do believe they’ll let Alonso walk (with QO) this offseason. But barring a major, sudden collapse that takes them all the way out of contention by the deadline, I highly doubt they’ll trade him and suffer the outrage of the fan base.
Who knows, Pete could surprise everyone after a middling season by taking the QO and betting on himself and another shot at FA after ‘25. Would be risky at his age, and I doubt it happens, but it could, and unless he takes a longer term deal way below what he wants (maybe the same deal he turned down this offseason) I doubt he’ll be back. And I think that’s probably the right move for the team.
It’s possible that they pay off enough of either Marte or McNeil’s contract to be able to move them, either at the deadline or the offseason, but I think they’d need to eat a big part of either deal to make that happen. I think they’ll see if they can move McNeil particularly, but most likely is they’re both on the Mets’ opening day ‘25 roster, whether either is starting or not.
Assuming Vientos at either 1st or 3rd next year, I’d consider keeping JDM for another year. I think that his presence alone has helped the Mets lineup and offensive mindset.
I’m sure that the FO is deeply disappointed that Mauricio, Jett and Gilbert lost this year of development. I doubt at this point they see any of them as likely to be ready for a big league job by opening day. That could mean that Bader is back, though he’ll likely be looking for a longer term contract, which could take him out of play.
Nimmo, Lindor, Alvarez, and Vientos look to me to be the only position players guaranteed to be back and starting next season.
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