Not since David Wright went down with injury has third base even been a debate in the New York Mets’ system. However, for almost a decade now, it’s been a constant revolving door of temporary placeholders until the next Wright steps up to the hot corner.
Last season, the Mets ranked last in fWAR, at minus-1.3, at third base, and around a half dozen players got the opportunity to make their mark there. While the rotation is the most glaring concern this off-season, you can’t win games if you don’t have enough durable arms, third base is Stearns’ next calling card.
At the abbreviated general manager meetings, David Stearns had plenty to say on the current situation at third. He pointed out that Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio will get their chances to claim the position.
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Baty, a former first-round pick, was always the plan at third. He was supposed to be the next David Wright, the guy to take over next to Francisco Lindor for the foreseeable future. However, his bat hasn’t translated over to the major league level from the minors, and his defense has been below average at best. While he has shown flashes of excellence, his ten errors in 100 games and minus-0.8 WAR leave something to be desired.
Mauricio came into Queens with a bang after his September call up. He swiped bags left and right, got on base via the hit and fielded well at second base. However, once he began to cool off at the plate, he too became forgettable. An intriguing option for third base, Mauricio spent only five games at the hot corner in his short stint with the big-league team and just two games in the minor leagues.
If team brass deems Mauricio, Baty, or even Mark Vientos unsuitable fits for third base, they can look elsewhere on the trade or free agent market. Stearns noted, “We will look because I think that’s the responsible thing to do, and it’s the right thing to do. I’d also say that one of the ways we find out about a player is by giving them a chance. And giving them chances.”
While it feels the Mets will look to solve their third base woes internally, at least for the first half of the season, there could be external options for them. Matt Chapman leads the pack, but a reunion with someone like Justin Turner isn’t out of the question. If the Mets want to stick to their “true” competitive window of 2025 or 2026, signing someone like Turner or Joey Wendle can help fill the gap. This time also allows Baty and Mauricio to prove what they have without sacrificing capital that can be used elsewhere.
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