The Marlins had been the game’s most energetic vendor on deadline day, displaying willingness to hear on nearly each short-term asset they’d whereas additionally focusing on controllable younger gamers round whom they might doubtlessly 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, stories Mike Puma of the New York Put up, including that Miami was one in all a number of golf equipment enthusiastic 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 finest prospects. He and present third baseman Mark Vientos — second-round decide in 2017 — ranked extremely within the Mets’ system all through their prospect tenures, however it’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. Nonetheless, 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 in addition performed left area within the majors. Present second baseman Jeff McNeil is not any stranger to the outfield corners and will shift there. The Mets may also see each Pete Alonso and J.D. Martinez develop 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 might work in additional of a primary base/DH position subsequent yr (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 achieved that. He’s performed in components of three large league seasons however managed solely a .215/.282/.325 batting line (73 wRC+) in 602 journeys to the plate. Nonetheless, 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, in fact, Baty would hardly be the primary prospect to battle on the plate in his first few MLB appears 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 yr.
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, a giant 12.8% stroll charge and a lower-than-average 18.7% strikeout charge. Baty nonetheless has a minor league choice remaining past the present season as effectively, so even when he struggles subsequent spring or early within the season, he might nonetheless be freely despatched to Triple-A for added refinement.
Ronny Mauricio has missed all the season resulting from a torn ACL however can be again within the combine subsequent yr. A prime prospect himself, he has hit a minimum of 20 residence runs in every of the previous three minor league seasons whereas taking part in shortstop, second base and third base. He not too long ago 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 influence on his timeline. Francisco Lindor has shortstop locked up for the foreseeable future however Mauricio might ultimately issue into the infield image at third or second base, relying on different developments across the roster.
The offseason can be fascinating with regard to the Mets’ nook combine. They’ll certainly obtain curiosity in Baty once more whereas concurrently exploring the potential for preserving a franchise cornerstone (Alonso) and a nonetheless very productive veteran DH (Martinez). Baty might arguably be used as a commerce chip to accumulate assistance on the pitching entrance — Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana can all develop into free brokers at season’s finish — however there’s additionally a attainable long-term position 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 usually since being acquired previous to the 2023 deadline, however he’s a defensive legal responsibility whose free-swinging, low-OBP method 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 might get a long-term take a look at third, however he’s a flexible prospect who might bounce across the diamond in a semi-regular position.
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 could have pitching to hawk once more this winter (e.g. Jesus Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, Ryan Weathers and doubtlessly even former Cy Younger winner Sandy Alcantara), so they might rekindle their curiosity in Baty. He’ll doubtless draw curiosity from each rebuilding groups and others merely on the lookout for a long-term choice on the sizzling nook, however it’s removed from a on condition that the Mets will really transfer Baty this offseason.
