Mets’ Roster Revelations: Uncovering the Team’s Perspective on Player Potential and Performance……
The New York Mets’ Opening Day roster started to come into focus on Sunday with a few moves that revealed plenty about how club officials view certain players, what they are attempting to balance and what they value.
One of the most interesting ones involved Mark Vientos.
The Mets informed Vientos that he would start the season in Triple A. Predictably, the decision frustrated the 24-year-old, who recently said he thought he made the most of the opportunity presented to him. J.D. Martinez’s recent arrival as designated hitter pretty much sealed Vientos’ fate but because Martinez requires at least 15 days to get ready, the Mets could’ve chosen to carry Vientos in the meantime.
Rather, they gave the minors Vientos as an option.
Right-hander Vientos was considered a likely DH candidate and even a potential third baseman until the Mets signed Martinez a few days ago.
There have been stories since January indicating that the Mets have expressed interest in a RHB component at 3B. Having said that, Short’s increasing versatility makes sense for his placement on the roster.
But trying to contend for a postseason berth while carrying two inexperienced young players is not easy. The Athletic revealed that club officials would be okay with Vientos or Brett Baty beginning the season in the minors after the Mets and Martinez reached a one-year agreement. Baty, a left-handed batter who was expected to start at third base all spring, was promoted to the major league team.
Among the factors:
• The Mets did not want to add Vientos to the active roster only to demote him once Martinez deemed himself ready. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns mentioned the idea of weighing player development for Vientos. It’s probably a disservice to him if he languishes on the bench. Playing time mattered.
• So did matchups. The Mets likely will see just one left-handed starter, rookie DL Hall, from the Milwaukee Brewers in their opening series. The Brewers may carry just one lefty reliever, too; Hoby Milner. After that, the Detroit Tigers will feature lefty Tarik Skubal with Andrew Chafin and Tyler Holton in the bullpen (Joey Wentz may also make the roster).
• On the surface, Vientos’ Triple-A numbers suggest he has nothing left to prove, but officials said he can control the strike zone better against right-handed pitchers. How much that can occur and improve in the minors remains a fair question.
• Defense and versatility also matter to the Mets, officials say. Rival scouts don’t love either Baty or Vientos as defenders, but Baty at least carries more experience. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Vientos could improve “his pre-pitch ready position so he can have a better first step to the ball.” With Triple-A Syracuse, Vientos will mostly play third base.
“I still view Mark as a major-league player,” Stearns said. “And he will be a major-league player for us this year and he will be a major-league player, I think, for a substantial part of the season. It’s just not on Opening Day.”
Zach Short’s profound day
Instead of Vientos — or Ji Man Choi, a left-handed batter who was another DH candidate — the Mets picked Zack Short for their Opening Day roster. Short is a little-known utility player from Kingston, New York, who grew up a Mets fan.
It was the kind of news he could use. Earlier on Sunday, Short said, he learned his grandmother had died.
“A crazy morning,” Short said after taking a few moments to compose himself during an interview with reporters.
For Short, there’s a first with the Mets opportunity. This 28-year-old is a professional.174 hitter in only 386 at-bats in his career. On November 3, the Detroit Tigers placed him on waivers, and the Mets have had him ever since.
Even Short seemed taken aback by his ability to persevere. After acquiring Short, the Mets signed left-handed hitter veteran Joey Wendle to a utility role. Short claimed that just a few days prior, while driving to a game in Jupiter with Wendle, the two laughed about the circumstance.
But Ronny Mauricio, a right-handed batter who was vying for the third base position, tore his ACL in January. Since then, according to league sources, the Mets have shown interest in carrying a right-handed third baseman who can cover for other teams on a part-time basis.
Perhaps Short can be that player; Stearns said he valued Short’s defense and versatility while adding that Short’s offensive game has changed. Short has gone the other way more than ever this spring, with positive results (.895 OPS in 39 plate appearances). He also brings solid speed. Would the Mets turn to him as a pinch hitter late in the game for Baty with a lefty on the mound? Will he draw starts against a tough lefty? Both calls may shed more light on the internal view of Baty, one way or the other.
In the least, it’s conceivable for Short to be used as a pinch runner or defensive replacement late in games at third base. If the Mets want to be a better defensive team in 2024, they need improvement at third base.
Baty, who made an Opening Day roster for the first time, said he improved his footwork defensively. He said he has done a better job of reading plays and hops, knowing when to immediately and aggressively pursue certain balls and when not to. Those things tend to come with more experience.
More moves to come
After all the heavy decisions, more tough calls remain.
The Mets still have one of their 13 position-player spots open.
The Mets are leaving the door open for the possibility of another addition as other teams trim their respective rosters.
As a result, they intend to bring left-handed batter and potential DH DJ Stewart to New York, but authorities informed him that his situation is still unknown. Stewart has an option with a minor league team. As of yet, he is not on the major league roster. Stearns stated he thinks Stewart can play first base, a position he practiced on while on the back fields during spring training. Stewart can play the corner outfield spots. The veteran elected to stay with the club, according to MLB.com, so the Mets will have Choi in Triple A as depth at first base.
It could be helpful to keep in mind that the Mets can rotate regular players for the DH position in the absence of Vientos, with Stewart’s future uncertain and as they wait on Martinez. Club
Ditto for the final spots in the bullpen.
With two spaces remaining, the Mets have three right-handed relievers in the running who are all out of minor-league options. Yohan Ramirez, Sean Reid-Foley, and Michael Tonkin might be selected by another team if they don’t make the roster. As long as he stays healthy, Reid-Foley seems to be the front-runner for one position, according to a story from The Athletic a few days ago. However, no decision has been made, so opinions could change. Wednesday is when the Mets might make a decision.
Meanwhile, Stearns stated he will balance durability and rebounding abilities against how “stuff packages” fit in the bullpen. This indicates that he wants his relievers to contribute unique qualities. The finest assault lineups are those that avoid repetition and sameness.
“This is a tough decision,” Stearns said. Season will opem on thursday nest week .
