WILL BRETT BATY DO THIS TO PITCHERS IN 2025?
So many Mets fans agonized over Jarred Kelenic being added to the Edwin Diaz trade, being a former 6th overall pick and whatnot.
Thou dost fret withal too much, William Shakespeare might have said.
Kelenic in his first two MLB years hit all right - he hit extreme headwinds.
500 at bats, 84 hits, which is a dreadful .168, in 2021 and 2022.
But in 2023 and 2024, he came around:
784 at bats, 43 doubles, 26 HRs, 94 RBIs, .241. Not All Star stuff, but solid. And 73 points higher than the first few years.
Jarred may never be better than average - only time will tell.
But he hit markedly better in the past two seasons than in the first 2.
Brett Baty?
He's had 2 Mets partial seasons in 2023-24, plus an injury-limited cup of coffee in late 2022.
So far, he's hit .215.
.215, doing the math in my head, is 47 points higher than Kelenic's .168 in his first two years.
So, maybe 2025 is Baty's jump-up year, to at least mediocrity from his below-mediocre results of 2022-24.
Baseball Reference is not excited about Baty:
It projects him at .229/.298/.356 in 324 plate appearances for 2025.
Steamers only lists Baty for 26 at bats in 2025. Skip them.
ZiPS has him at 480 plate appearances, .240/.315/.396.
- Very close to Kelenic's last 2 seasons.
Hard to see him getting 480 plate appearances with these Mets, what with Alonso back and all, unless (heaven forbid) there is a rash of injuries.
But I think Baty will rise from sub-mediocrity to mediocrity in 2025.
That may not be what he wants - but .240/.315/.396 ain't bad.
It is actually pretty close to the .232/.317/.423 that ZiPS has projected for Michael Conforto with the Dodgers this year.
Baty's one big disadvantage is this Mets team is built to win - and so playing time could be tough to come by. If he was with the Chicago White Sox, 600 plate appearances would be his.
Having read the above, what do you generally foresee for 2025 for Baty?
I'd settle for Brent Rooker 2023, when Rooker went from really struggling to 30 HRs. I imagine Baty would settle for that, too.
Baty better watch out, though. Ronny Mauricio said he is feeling pretty good with his leg right now and plans to return as a BETTER ballplayer than he was pre-injury in the moths to come.
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Will the Mets sign another starter with Fragile Frankie Montas due to be out for perhaps the first few months of the 2025 season?
30 comments:
Answer: Quintana is supposedly the best available and accurate or not, reports have the Mets reaching out to him. Quintana wasn’t very good until September came and he rolled off successive successful outings.
As for Baty, the major leagues aren’t easy. If he has a good March, he could be packaged with Marte for something.
Unfortunately, Baty has absolutely no role on this year's team. I think I would have given him a shot at the left-handed DH role. Occasionally spelling Vientos at 3B. That would have been his only shot a some playing time. I like Winkler, but he is sort of taking AB's away from Baty and in the same vein Mauricio when he is fully healthy.
It's very disappointing to me because I really thought we had something in Baty.
I think they are looking at Quintana or Woods.
I will agree with the others. If Vientos plays close to like he did last year, Baty will not have a role on this team. His best option is to play well in AAA and hope to be traded at the deadline.
Agree, it appears that they are looking to add another pitcher. Which in my mind, Montas will probably be out for more than the 6 to 8 weeks origin my reported
JoeP, I think Winker’s signing showed a lack of confidence in Baty. Last year was not good for hm. He’s s 2nd Mets flop, sent to AAA, hit like Barry Bonds for a few weeks, then went comatose for an extended stretch v. AAA pitching.
Quintana would be the extra expenditure Cohen and Stearns did not want to make. One year, 6 mill is really $13 million with the “Cohen Tax.” But I have little faith in Canning and Blackburn.
Gotta agree with everyone. Baty is gone this year at some point. I think the Mets and Q will make a 1 year deal with reasonable salary and incentives to make more
Brett Baty is a third baseman
He is ONLY a third baseman
His bat got him first shot at third
He failed
Mark Vientos had second shot
He succeeded
The Mets signed Pete
So much for first
The Mets have McNeil, Acuña, Mauricio at second
Any questions?
Baty cannot become the next Kelenic if he doesn't have the opportunity. Unfortunately, I don't see that opportunity happening in New York. I have been a Baty fan for a while and really hoped he would make it big.
I am not sure Kelenic has 'made it' either. He has had a couple of 'better' years, but he cannot stick in the majors if his OPS+ remains under water.
As far as pitching goes, I am not sure why you guys are writing off Canning, Megill and Blackburn. Stearns signed Canning for a reason and he has a lot more info on these guys than I do. Megill pitched well last year. Blackburn is a reasonable backend guy (#5 or 6), but his health is the key question. I won't be too concerned about the pitching unless another injury hits the top of the rotation.
Don't write off either Canning or Megill
Mack, can Baty field well enough to DH? Kidding aside, if he is not dealt soon, he is injury insurance thru spring training.
In the days not too far past, when the Wilpons tolerated a Kirk Nieuwenhuis with their fingers crossed, these days are different. Baty has not proven to be better than Captain Kirk, and Captain Kirk may take you to far off galaxies, but not to the playoffs. We need a ton of guys who can collectively get this team INTO the playoffs. Not fringe guys who could succeed, but who might very well fail, and take the whole starship down with them.
R69, Baty has less rope on a tight playoff contender. Pitchers? Canning and Blackburn numbers are very unimpressive. Megill is different…he may still break thru. Finished strong the last 20% of 2024 (or guess what, we miss the 2024 playoffs). He is a good bit better than the other two.
I'll save this comment for October, but my sleeper pick for "I'm glad they got that guy" is Griffin Canning. It is true that the back of his baseball card numbers are a little less than impressive but I like the 171 innings he threw last year and a couple of clips I have seen had him really talking up the Mets pitching lab and his 'wanting to get better'. He came in with the right attitude.
Mack, I agree about Baty. He is a 3B, I thought possibly some work at 1B (pre Alonso) might increase value. As far as McGil, Canning, Blackburn...meh. Not very inspiring. McGil deserves a shot based on the end of 2024. Let's not forget he has had multiple chances already. Blackburn is awful. Canning is interesting, but he should have been down at the lab all winter.
Anybody see that clip of the bomb that Baty hit off Senga?
The addition of Soto changes everything
Locked solid are:
1B
2B
SS
3B
C
RF
not much left for team controlled bats
I'd love to see Baty in the outfield. Trading Marte may open up a spot for him.
Yes! Why is Mauricio taking reps at third base, and why did Acuna play exactly the same amount of games at 2B and CF if the Mets viewed him a second baseman?
If Kelenic was acceptable, why sign Profar?
A hot Baty spring could cause Marte to be moved. Let's see what we got.
The only place for the youngins to break in are:
2B: Mcneil gone soon, turns into super utility guy.
1B: If Pete opts out
3B: If Vientos moves to DH/1B next year.
The Outfield: The outfield is pretty open. In a few years Soto will/should be our full-time DH. Nimmo could also see time as DH. That leaves CF wide open and at least 1 other corner outfield spot.
Leaves room for at least 3 prospects. The rest could be trade bait. We need pitching.
I expect Pete and the Mets will extend
Not too many first baseman like him come available
Soto gifted Baty a new SUV this morning
I just heard that. That was quite generous. If Pete has a decent year, I believe they will extend him. He better lose Boros. I don't think they will put up with his shit again.
Unfortunately, Baty and Marte are not really interchangeable. Marte is the RH side of the DH platoon, Baty his from the same side as Winker. Marte doesn't play infield, Baty doesn't play outfield (much). It is really hard to see how Baty can get a spot on this roster unless he has more position flexibility that I realize and can be a super-sub utility guy off the bench.
Pete is in an interesting place. He kinda has a hammer here. If he has a good year and chooses not to opt out, he gets $24M next year. If he stays put, are the Mets still in on Vlad Jr.?? Then he has another decent year in '26, what happens? Vlad has signed on with another team for another 12 years - what first baseman are available?
How nice of Soto.
Neither Winker nor Baty hit lefties well, so Marte’s bat is important. I’d keep him
Morabito is their best righty hitting minor league OF. Maybe ready later in 2025?
Marte is a goner.
I didn't actually mean Baty and Winkler. I meant Baty instead of Winkler. McNeil, Marte or Acuna can fill in the OF if needed. Just a thought on how we could incorporate the prospects.
Post a Comment