It feels like it’s been the question of a couple of years now, but we’re still figuring out how Mark Vientos fits into the Mets’ plans and what his exact role is. With no clear position but a hot bat in Syracuse, it’s hard for the Mets to keep him down there with nothing else to prove. However, they need to figure out a clear plan as to what his future looks like in Queens so he can have a successful and lengthy career.
First, let’s examine his 2023 stats in both Syracuse and Queens:
2023 AAA: 228 PA, .307/.386/.614, 70 H, 16 HR, 50 RBI, 57 SO, 28 BB
2023 New York Mets: 64 PA, .220/.266/.288 13 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 19 SO, 3 BB
Mark Vientos. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
HIS ROLE NOW
Up until now, Vientos’ main snag in Queens has been inconsistent playing time. He’s been called up and shipped back to Syracuse a handful of times, and when he is on the major league roster, he either sits for a handful of consecutive games in between one start or gets a single pinch-hit appearance per game. It could be a factor in why he hasn’t been able to replicate his Syracuse stats with the Mets so far, and it has become an alarming issue.
When asked about it, however, Vientos always takes it in stride like a true professional. In addition, he’s been used primarily as a DH against lefties, even with the streaky Daniel Vogelbach still garnering most of the playing time against righties.
WHAT HIS ROLE CAN BE
With the trade deadline rapidly approaching August 2, the Vientos question can be answered rather quickly. If the Mets do commit to the selling market, players like Mark Canha and Tommy Pham feel like locks to go. Should that occur, the Mets have the opportunity to do a bit of shuffling in the field. Vientos has spent most of his minor league career at first and third, both blocked right now by Pete Alonso and rookie companion Brett Baty.
However, with the postseason out of the question, Baty can shift to the outfield and wrinkle out whatever growing pains occur there. As a result, Vientos can shift into third and garner the consistent playing time he’s been needing. Only until he’s given the chance to play every day can he truly have the chance to develop. Or the Mets could give him consistent at-bats as the designated hitter if they deal/DFA Vogelbach.
A TRADE PIECE?
Regardless of what the Mets do when the trade deadline strikes, Vientos might not fit into their long-term plans and instead might be a valuable trade piece. Rumors spread like wildfire he could be in play for Javier Báez in the 2021 trade that instead sent Pete Crow-Armstrong to the Cubs. The Mets can flip him to a team at the deadline and gain something in return they are in desperate need of, perhaps more controllable, reliable bullpen help or starting pitching.
Either way, Vientos has always been a valuable piece for the Mets, but if the Mets continue to mismanage his playing time, one begins to ponder what might happen to a player with such potential.
