Crossfire: External DH or Rely on Internal Candidate?

With the free agency period dwindling and Spring Training about a month away, the Mets head into the 2024 season with tempered expectations. While in previous years, the mentality was “World Series or bust,” which came across in how Steve Cohen spent, this past offseason was quieter. 

After bringing in David Stearns as the president of baseball operations, the Mets decided to take a different approach. They signed players like Harrison Bader and Sean Manaea, both looking for bounce backs and traded for Tyrone Taylor and Adrian Houser to fill roster gaps.

While the Mets improved as a team defensively, there’s still a question mark in various roles. Who will fill out the remaining spots in the bullpen? How does Starling Marte fit into the roster? One of the most important questions the team faced entering the offseason, and still does, is how they plan to address the DH spot.

The DH spot was a revolving title last year, and while many hoped Daniel Vogelbach would take to the role, he never hit for consistency, was benched, and then later non-tendered. Mark Vientos hasn’t received a fair look in any role since his debut in 2022. Then names like J.D. Martinez, Jorge Soler and former Met Justin Turner remain on the market.

MMO challenged two writers to decide whether the Mets should explore external candidates or internal options for the DH role. Mike Ayer believes the Mets should go outside the organization for a DH, and Allison Waxman thinks the Mets could be fine in-house. 

EXTERNAL DH

David Stearns and company have tried to improve on the margins this offseason by handing out short-term deals to players and putting depth together. Signing an external DH candidate would continue that trend and likely bring the Mets closer to being a playoff contender in 2024.

Another reason why I believe the Mets should sign a DH is the hearty market at the position. Justin Turner, J.D. Martinez, Jorge Soler, and Brandon Belt are all coming off good 2024 seasons and are still on the market. Rhys Hoskins –though likely hoping for a spot to play more first– had a 123 OPS+ when he last played in 2022. There are legit big league bats available still who could DH for the Mets.

All of the guys mentioned above would give the Mets a proven veteran at DH, something they have been solely missing for years, but Turner stands out to me as the best fit. He would give the Mets more flexibility, given his ability to play first base, second base and third base. The offense is still there (114 OPS+ in 146 games for the Red Sox last year), and I believe having him around Brett Baty and other young Mets hitters could pay long-term dividends.

INTERNAL CANDIDATE

I go back and forth on this. However, David Stearns and Co have stuck with a concrete plan this offseason. There would be no flashy signings, instead adding players on short-term deals who provide plenty of upside. That said, Stearns should stick to his word and see what the Mets farm system is capable of.

Vientos, Marte, Taylor and DJ Stewart should and will get good looks in spring training. Younger prospects like Drew Gilbert and Luisangel Acuña will also receive their fair chance, but Stearns mentioned the former would begin the season in Syracuse. The knee injury to Ronny Mauricio threw the Mets’ plans up in the air, but that shouldn’t change how they approach DH.

Vientos and company need their at-bats, plain and simple. Vientos, especially, has never had the opportunity to reach his potential at the big-league level. With the DH spot up for grabs, and essentially his to lose, the Mets now can see what they have in their final “Baby Met” before the new batch makes their debut.