After weeks of speculation, it now seems that the New York Mets are now more willing than ever to part with third baseman Mark Vientos.
Late last season, and in the 2024 MLB playoffs, Vientos was a monster. Smashing five home runs and knocking in 14 RBIs during the team’s stunning run to the National League Championship Series. He seemed primed to be a key part of the lineup going forward after struggling in his first two seasons. However, it seems more and more like last year may have been an anomaly.
His stats are down in a big way across the board, and it comes at a time when some of his young contemporaries have started to outplay him and are earning more time on the field. In recent weeks, rumors emerged that trading him before Thursday’s deadline wasn’t out of the question. It now seems that it is a very real possibility this week as the club looks to upgrade the roster for the second half.
“The Mets have been discussing Mark Vientos in trade talks this week, and rival executives believe that the team is willing to move him,” sources told SNY MLB insider Andy Martino.
“Teams have asked about Vientos, Brett Baty, and Ronny Mauricio. The Mets are not actively trying to rid themselves of any of those young infielders. But given Baty’s recent production and newfound versatility, rival execs have come away with the sense that Vientos is more available than the others,” he added.
Mark Vientos stats: .226 AVG, .280 OBP, .358 SLG, .638 OBP, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 22 R
A few months ago, it seemed like Baty would be the expendable player among their young infielders. However, he has played better over the last month and has built serious momentum in the last two weeks. Furthermore, his ability to play rock-solid to good defense at both third and second gives him added value.
Mauricio is one of the most promising prospects in the Mets organization. After missing all of 2024 due to a torn ACL, he has played well this season. Over the last month, he has been hitting .295 and has caught fire over the last two weeks. Posting a .333 average. He also offers more infield versatility than Vientos.
