The Marlins had been the game’s most energetic vendor on deadline day, displaying willingness to pay attention on nearly each short-term asset that they had whereas additionally focusing on controllable younger gamers round whom they might probably construct future iterations of the membership. One participant sought by Miami’s entrance workplace was inside their very own division; the Fish confirmed “heavy curiosity” in third base prospect Brett Baty, studies Mike Puma of the New York Put up, including that Miami was one among a number of golf equipment concerned about shopping for low on the previous first-rounder and top-100 prospect.
Chosen twelfth general again in 2019, Baty ranked on MLB.com’s top-100 prospects checklist yearly from 2020-23. By the point the 2022-23 seasons rolled round, nearly each publication of notice ranked Baty among the many recreation’s 50 or so greatest prospects. He and present third baseman Mark Vientos — second-round decide in 2017 — ranked extremely within the Mets’ system all through their prospect tenures, but it surely’s Vientos who’s taken the reins at third base and run with the chance. In 259 plate appearances this season, the 24-year-old Vientos owns a hearty .280/.336/.547 slash (148 wRC+) with 16 homers and 15 doubles.
The emergence of Vientos naturally led to some hypothesis concerning Baty within the lead-in to final month’s commerce deadline. Nevertheless, Vientos’ presence alone hardly means there’s no long-term match on the roster for Baty. He’s seen minor league work at second base and likewise performed left discipline within the majors. Present second baseman Jeff McNeil is not any stranger to the outfield corners and will shift there. The Mets may even see each Pete Alonso and J.D. Martinez change into free brokers at season’s finish. Baty is taken into account a superior defender at third to Vientos, so if Alonso and/or Martinez depart in free company, Vientos may work in additional of a primary base/DH function subsequent 12 months (or rotate between the 2 infield corners and DH). That’d liberate third base for Baty — if he hits sufficient to benefit the chance.
Up to now in his profession, Baty merely hasn’t performed that. He’s performed in elements of three huge league seasons however managed solely a .215/.282/.325 batting line (73 wRC+) in 602 journeys to the plate. Nevertheless, he was additionally rushed to the majors in ’22 regardless of solely having six video games of Triple-A expertise to his credit score. And, after all, Baty would hardly be the primary prospect to wrestle on the plate in his first few MLB seems to be earlier than hitting his stride in his mid-20s. Even Vientos flailed away at a .205/.255/.354 clip by way of his first 81 video games in 2022-23 earlier than hitting his stride within the majors this 12 months.
It’s value noting that whereas he didn’t hit within the majors this season, Baty’s nonetheless displaying loads of promise in Syracuse. He’s taken 203 turns on the plate with the Mets’ Triple-A membership there and posted a sound .260/.360/.497 line (119 wRC+) with 11 homers, eight doubles, an enormous 12.8% stroll fee and a lower-than-average 18.7% strikeout fee. Baty nonetheless has a minor league choice remaining past the present season as properly, so even when he struggles subsequent spring or early within the season, he may nonetheless be freely despatched to Triple-A for extra refinement.
Ronny Mauricio has missed your complete season as a consequence of a torn ACL however might be again within the combine subsequent 12 months. A high prospect himself, he has hit at the very least 20 residence runs in every of the previous three minor league seasons whereas enjoying shortstop, second base and third base. He lately underwent surgical procedure to wash up some scar tissue in his proper knee, per Will Sammon of The Athletic on X, however that isn’t anticipated to have a noticeable affect on his timeline. Francisco Lindor has shortstop locked up for the foreseeable future however Mauricio may ultimately issue into the infield image at third or second base, relying on different developments across the roster.
The offseason might be attention-grabbing with regard to the Mets’ nook combine. They’ll certainly obtain curiosity in Baty once more whereas concurrently exploring the opportunity of conserving a franchise cornerstone (Alonso) and a nonetheless very productive veteran DH (Martinez). Baty may arguably be used as a commerce chip to amass assistance on the pitching entrance — Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana can all change into free brokers at season’s finish — however there’s additionally a potential long-term function available in Queens, particularly if Alonso indicators elsewhere.
From the Marlins’ vantage level, focusing on Baty is completely smart. They don’t have a long-term resolution at third base. Jake Burger has dealt with that spot often since being acquired previous to the 2023 deadline, however he’s a defensive legal responsibility whose free-swinging, low-OBP strategy on the plate results in wild fluctuations by way of offensive output. He’s higher suited at first base or at designated hitter. Deadline pickup Graham Pauley may get a long-term take a look at third, however he’s a flexible prospect who may bounce across the diamond in a semi-regular function.
Including Baty and his remaining 5 seasons of membership management certainly holds some attraction, however the Mets are presumably cautious of sending Baty to a different NL East membership and watching him blossom into a daily. Nonetheless, the Marlins may have pitching to hawk once more this winter (e.g. Jesus Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, Ryan Weathers and probably even former Cy Younger winner Sandy Alcantara), so they might rekindle their curiosity in Baty. He’ll probably draw curiosity from each rebuilding groups and others merely searching for a long-term choice on the sizzling nook, but it surely’s removed from a provided that the Mets will really transfer Baty this offseason.