MISSING THE MARK

By MIKE RIFKIN

One of the things fans loved about the 2024 Mets was the fact that young players were key contributors to the lineup. The “Baby Mets” as they were called, Brett Baty, Francisco Alvarez, Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio. Fast forward a year and a half later and the latest edition of the “Baby Mets” are AJ Ewing and Carson Benge and boy are they fun to watch. 

One of the reasons I think the Mets let Pete Alonso walk (which was a mistake either way), was to get consistent at bats for Mark Vientos. But over the last year and a half I’m starting to wonder if 2024 was just the year for Vientos. Vientos hit 27 homers and drove in 71 runs with a slash line of .266/.322/.516. Last season Vientos hit 17 homers and drove in 61 with a slash line of .233/.289/.413, and so far this season Vientos has a slash line of .209/.249/.378 with 10 homers and 33 RBI’S. Vientos’ defense isn’t helping either, when he has played first base he has six errors in 58 games. 

So Vientos is struggling defensively, when David Stearns talked about run prevention, he’s struggling to drive in runs, so what do you do with Vientos? You don’t want him rotting on the bench and what would sending him to Triple A do for his confidence? Vientos might be a perfect change of scenery candidate. He’s going to be 27 in December, but let’s be honest what’s his position with the 2027 Mets, because the 2026 Mets are fried (I just can’t see a turnaround). ‘

Do I love the idea of getting rid of a former second round pick, who will be 27 in December? Not really, but Vientos hasn’t looked like his 2024 version of himself offensively and if that’s an outlier, so be it. And let’s be honest he’s a man without a position, eventually the Mets will give Ryan Clifford some run at first base, Brett Baty, say what you will about his offense, but he’s a much better defender (especially when playing his natural position.) and way more versatile than Vientos. And Vientos’s numbers don’t even warrant him being a DH, so maybe around the deadline use Vientos in a package for futures to help the 27 Mets, because right now I have a hard time envisioning Vientos being on the roster.