There are at least three schools of thought when it comes to utilizing the DH spot. The first is to get a thumper to play the spot for the majority of the time, like 140 games or more. The second is to create a platoon, trying to get thumper production with two or more guys. The third is to use the spot to rotate multiple guys in, giving essentially “half days off” to regulars who won’t have to play the field.
The last option has many backers but don’t count me as one. My position is that days off are a good thing and nobody should be playing 160 games in a year, even if 20 of them are spent as a DH. My hope is that Carlos Mendoza is more inclined to give his stars a day off here and there. Last year, the Mets had four players with at least 152 games played, with Francisco Lindor playing 160.
Over the past year and a half, the Mets have tried to utilize a platoon at the position. And somewhat amazingly, the trouble has been filling the short side of the platoon. Back in the days of Gil Hodges and Earl Weaver, platoons were a regular thing. But with the proliferation of pitchers, it’s harder to run platoons now than it was in the 60s and 70s.
Which leaves us with the full-time thumper. If the Mets only have two more additions left this offseason, should one of them be a DH? Or should they look to give Mark Vientos a shot to get full-time ABs without worrying about playing the field? It will be curious to see how David Stearns views the position going forward.
I agree that rotating Alonso et al. to DH is a bad idea. I think that a Vientos/Stewart DH platoon might or might not work. I’m dubious.
J.D. Martinez will be 36 years old and can still thump. The Mets need someone to hit behind Alonso and I’m OK with J.D. being the guy, even if he’s a RH batter and a FT DH. He might go for a two-year $38m. deal.
Justin Turner might go for a one-year deal, but he will be 39. He consistently has an OPS+ that’s well above average. He’s also a RH batter, but could play some 1B and 3B (like Vientos). I’d go with Martinez, but would be OK with Turner for one year at $12 m.
And I would pass on Teoscar Hernández, who some like for the Mets. First of all, he received a QO, with penalties for signing him. Yes, he can play the OF (badly), but he strikes out a ton! Sign Adam Duvall instead.
I haven’t done the math, but I’m not sure the Mets can sign an everyday DH a la Martinez or Turner, and final a way to give kids enough ABs to make a decent determination on their futures. It would help if they felt comfortable enough with either Baty or Vientos or both fielding at 3B daily. And, if they are ok with that defense, do they want to only platoon these kids, or start with a platoon until one takes the lead. Yes, the Mauricio question won’t be answered until the end of 2025 optimistically, but how do they find out what Baty and Vientos are and still look like a playoff contender on paper by opening day?
I can go either way on that one. I’m not concerned about adding a DH because I don’t think this team is a real contender this year, anyway. On the other hand, I don’t share your concerns about “enough at bats” for the kids.
I do not believe that a team has to make a singular, definitive determination about a kid’s future at one singular point in time. Some kids just take two or three years to grow into a major league role, let alone a starting role.
For better or worse our Baby Mets will have a huge say in whether the Mets are contenders or not. CanAlvarez hit 20+ HRs with a league average OBP? Can Baty be a decent 3B and be at least an average ML hitter? Can Vientos be a solid DH,drive on runs, and maybe hit 20+ HRs? I’m not sure any will happen.
That is absolutely the case. It’s an experimental year, and that makes the Mets as a Premium FA destination pretty small. I have marginal hope for Baty and Vientos, but there’s a lot to like about Alvarez, although i hope they really discourage all the throwing behind the runner and have him focus on getting his throw to second stronger.
The worst of news is the more likely outcome: what if neither Baty nor Vientos can really muster MLB average-to-better play. This drives a lot of reconfiguring for next year. We can hope Mauricio recovers and can hit or field, but thats a big unknown today. What will that mean for ‘25? Huge budget and a ton of FAs?
It really feels like a razors edge.
Well said. But I’m a little less skeptical. First, I’m not counting on 2025 as “the year”. Scherzer said that the Mets told him they were looking towards 2025 “and more to 2026”. So this is an on-going process.
Baty’s a big concern. Not because he did not hit, but because he never improved, even over 350 ABs. Vientos, on the other hand, struggled for about 170 major-league ABs, and then hit well over his last 80 ABs or so. But can he learn to field?
I think Baty will struggle, shuttle back & forth to AAA, but show some improvement. Vientos will have his some cold streaks at the plate, but will hit more than he did last year overall. And we’ll go into ’25 with one or both of them still part of the equation, but no definitive answer.
I really dislike the idea of a shared DH. I also really dislike the idea of a platoon of a guy like Stewart. The shared DH experiment with Vogelbach didn’t work. I don’t think it will work with Stewart. If he plays at the level the back of his baseball card says he will, he will be a bust.
As for Alvarez, I see him hitting 28-32 home runs. That would be great. As for Vientos and Baty, how long does the team go with them with their training wheels on? So, relying on Vientos, Baty and Stewart is a recipe for failure. What do we do if we decide that these players aren’t the answer, what do we do in the middle of the season?
Add in a questionable Marte and this team could be as bad in scoring runs as this past seasons team.
The way I look at it, if you have a glaring weakness, fix it. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, ok, no problem. Sign Turner and Duvall on short term deals.
So far, besides adding Houser and a bunch of backups, Stearns has done nothing.
I would be really disappointed if they don’t make anymore meaningful moves. As for a starter, I would sign Imanaga. We will find out soon on this because Imanaga has until January 11th to sign a contract.
Same goes for relief pitchers. I get, they don’t want Hader at $ 100 million, but there are other good relief pitchers out there who are far less expensive.
I fear the junk pile relief pitchers they have signed will turn out to be junk.
Yes, I am worried. Stearns, please prove me wrong.
LHB DJ Stewart had a.595 0PS vs LHP and a .895 vs RHP in 2023
RHB Vientos had a .584 OPS vs LHP and a .645 vs RHP in 2023.
On paper, they could platoon but Vientos could win 3B job .
LHB Baty had a .474 OPS vs LHP and a .640 vs RHP.
On paper, Vientos could be the third baseman but the Mets will probably play both at third and hopefully one will emerge.
Baty and Vientos are young players and it is hard a get a read on them. Stewart has more time and has career. 784 OPS vs RHP but a .616 OPS vs LHP. Relying on Stewart as the LHB DH wouldn’t be bad. Can Vientos win outright be DH ? He would have to hit .784 OPS vs RHP to be justified of taking away Stewart’s share of the platoon.
RHB Vientos can platoon at DH or 3B but is physically impossible to both at he same time.
If Stearns wants to stay under $277M payroll, a solution is to sign Adam Duvall for one year. Vientos and Baty split their time (not a strict platoon) at third. A lot of pressure is riding on Vientos and Baty this season.
Seems they should start Baty at third and let him grow into it. Hard to believe that with a lot of work he could not turn into at least a serviceable player at the hot corner. That was not the case entering 2023 but with Mauricio done for the season it’s their best option short of overpaying for a one year deal with an aging player who we hope still has gas in the tank. The decline in the later 30’s can happen in a flash. I’d start Vientos as the RH DH since it keeps him off the field and his bat really started to come around toward the end of the season. I think that players want to play and while I’d designate a primary LH DH, I’d put a lefty having a “day off” in that slot every now and then Lindor or McNeil can help the club. Anyone who has ever played at nearly any level of baseball would rather be involved than sitting on the bench having a designated day off.
I have long opined that the DH position should not be a retread or a bench player and instead be a strong and consistent bat to add to the lineup. If you put a good player in that spot, they could play basically every day. A lot in this lineup depends on if Marte is healthy. If he is, then they’ve solved one outfield spot, and have sufficiently lengthen the lineup. And add his the stolen base element that has basically been lacking and they score more runs. At this point though, the critical need is starting pitching and I would rather overspend in that area then bring in an $18 million DH, who is more likely to fall apart as the season progresses.
C’mon Stearns – show us the money!!!!!
Bader signed with the Mets for 1 year. It’s either Bader in left or Bader I center and push Nimmo to left.
Not thrilled with this, but it will be good to have his defense in the outfield.
Still need a real DH and a starter.
“The Mets announced that they have claimed infielder Diego Castillo off waivers from the Diamondbacks. The latter club had designated him assignment two weeks ago when they made their signing of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. official. DFA limbo normally only lasts a week but the clock is paused for the week from Christmas to New Year’s. The Mets’ 40-man roster is up to 39, but it will be full once their deal with Harrison Bader is announced.
snip
Between the Bucs and D’Backs, he has 284 major league plate appearances but has hit just .205/.250/.380 in those. He’s fared much better in the minors, including last year. In 556 plate appearances for Arizona’s Triple-A club in 2023, Castillo walked more than he struck out, a 17.4% walk rate compared to a 14.2% strikeout rate. He only hit three home runs but slashed .313/.431/.410 for a wRC+ of 117. He also stole 13 bases and suited up at the three infield positions to the left of first base, as well as left field.”
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/mets-claim-diego-castillo-from-diamondbacks.html
Braves signed Luis Guillorme to MLB deal