PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The New York Mets’ Opening Day roster began to return into concentrate on Sunday with a couple of strikes that exposed a lot about how membership officers view sure gamers, what they’re making an attempt to stability and what they worth.
Probably the most attention-grabbing ones concerned Mark Vientos.
The Mets knowledgeable Vientos that he would begin the season in Triple A. Predictably, the choice annoyed the 24-year-old, who lately stated he thought he made the many of the alternative introduced to him. J.D. Martinez’s latest arrival as designated hitter just about sealed Vientos’ destiny however as a result of Martinez requires at the least 15 days to prepare, the Mets might’ve chosen to hold Vientos within the meantime.
As an alternative, they optioned Vientos to the minors.
Till the Mets signed Martinez a couple of days in the past, Vientos, a right-handed batter, lingered as a logical DH candidate who might additionally see a while at third base.
There’s been reporting right here since January that the Mets preferred the concept of some type of RHB part at 3B. So, Quick ending up on the roster is sensible from that standpoint, plus the added versatility he brings.
— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) March 24, 2024
It’s troublesome, nevertheless, to hold two unproven younger gamers whereas additionally attempting to compete for a playoff spot. When the Mets agreed with Martinez on a one-year deal, The Athletic reported that membership officers could be comfy with both Vientos or Brett Baty beginning the season within the minors. Baty, a lefty batter and the presumed beginning third baseman all spring, made the major-league membership.
Among the many elements:
• The Mets didn’t need to add Vientos to the energetic roster solely to demote him as soon as Martinez deemed himself prepared. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns talked about the concept of weighing participant growth for Vientos. It’s most likely a disservice to him if he languishes on the bench. Enjoying time mattered.
• So did matchups. The Mets doubtless will see only one left-handed starter, rookie DL Corridor, from the Milwaukee Brewers of their opening sequence. The Brewers might carry only one lefty reliever, too; Hoby Milner. After that, the Detroit Tigers will characteristic lefty Tarik Skubal with Andrew Chafin and Tyler Holton within the bullpen (Joey Wentz might also make the roster).
• On the floor, Vientos’ Triple-A numbers counsel he has nothing left to show, however officers stated he can management the strike zone higher in opposition to right-handed pitchers. How a lot that may happen and enhance within the minors stays a good query.
• Protection and flexibility additionally matter to the Mets, officers say. Rival scouts don’t love both Baty or Vientos as defenders, however Baty at the least carries extra expertise. Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated Vientos might enhance “his pre-pitch prepared place so he can have a greater first step to the ball.” With Triple-A Syracuse, Vientos will principally play third base.
“I nonetheless view Mark as a major-league participant,” Stearns stated. “And he will probably be a major-league participant for us this yr and he will probably be a major-league participant, I believe, for a considerable a part of the season. It’s simply not on Opening Day.”
Zach Quick’s profound day
As an alternative of Vientos — or Ji Man Choi, a left-handed batter who was one other DH candidate — the Mets picked Zack Quick for his or her Opening Day roster. Quick is a little-known utility participant from Kingston, New York, who grew up a Mets fan.
It was the type of information he might use. Earlier on Sunday, Quick stated, he realized his grandmother had died.
“A loopy morning,” Quick stated after taking a couple of moments to compose himself throughout an interview with reporters.
For Quick, the chance with the Mets presents a primary. The 28-year-old is a profession .174 hitter with simply 386 profession at-bats. The Mets claimed him off waivers from the Detroit Tigers on Nov. 3, and he caught round ever since.
Even Quick sounded stunned at his endurance. The Mets inked veteran Joey Wendle, a left-handed batter, to a utility position after selecting up Quick. As lately as a couple of days in the past, Quick stated he shared fun with Wendle concerning the scenario as the 2 drove collectively to a sport in Jupiter.
Nonetheless, in January, Ronny Mauricio (a right-handed batter in rivalry for the third-base job) tore his ACL. Since then, the Mets have been involved in carrying somebody who offers protection at third base as a right-handed possibility in a part-time position, league sources stated.
Maybe Quick could be that participant; Stearns stated he valued Quick’s protection and flexibility whereas including that Quick’s offensive sport has modified. Quick has gone the opposite far more than ever this spring, with optimistic outcomes (.895 OPS in 39 plate appearances). He additionally brings stable pace. Would the Mets flip to him as a pinch hitter late within the sport for Baty with a lefty on the mound? Will he draw begins in opposition to a tricky lefty? Each calls might shed extra mild on the inner view of Baty, come what may.
Within the least, it’s conceivable for Quick for use as a pinch runner or defensive alternative late in video games at third base. If the Mets need to be a greater defensive group in 2024, they want enchancment at third base.
Baty, who made an Opening Day roster for the primary time, stated he improved his footwork defensively. He stated he has executed a greater job of studying performs and hops, figuring out when to instantly and aggressively pursue sure balls and when to not. These issues have a tendency to return with extra expertise.
Extra strikes to return
After all of the heavy selections, extra robust calls stay.
The Mets nonetheless have one in all their 13 position-player spots open.
The Mets are leaving the door open for the potential for one other addition as different groups trim their respective rosters.
Thus, they plan to carry DJ Stewart, a left-handed batter and one more DH candidate, to New York, however officers instructed him his standing stays unsure. Stewart carries a minor-league possibility. He has not but made the major-league roster. He can play the nook outfield spots and Stearns stated he believes Stewart can play some first base, a place he labored on whereas on the again fields in spring coaching. As depth at first base, the Mets could have Choi in Triple A as a result of the veteran determined to stay round within the group, a league supply confirmed.
With out Vientos, with Stewart’s standing in limbo and because the Mets wait on Martinez, it might be value remembering that they’ll rotate common gamers for the DH spot. Membership officers say plans for the ultimate position-player spot and the standing of the DH place stay fluid. The Mets worth flexibility.
They might not make last selections till Wednesday.
Ditto for the ultimate spots within the bullpen.
With two spots left, the Mets have three right-handed relievers within the working who’re all out of minor-league choices, that means whoever doesn’t make the roster might get scooped up by one other group: Michael Tonkin, Sean Reid-Foley and Yohan Ramirez. The Athletic reported a couple of days in the past that Reid-Foley gave the impression to be the favourite among the many group for one spot so long as he remained wholesome, however a call had not been made and opinions might change. The Mets might not resolve till Wednesday.
Within the meantime, Stearns stated he’ll weigh how “stuff packages” match within the bullpen, balancing that versus size and a capability to bounce again. Which means he’s in search of his relievers to carry completely different traits. He desires to keep away from sameness and duplication to finest assault lineups.
“This can be a robust choice,” Stearns stated.
By Thursday’s season opener, they’ll at the least be used to creating them.
(Prime picture of Mark Vientos: Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA At this time)