With the offseason nearing a close, the New York Mets still have remaining holes on the roster that have to be filled in order to feel comfortable about satisfying the team’s desire to compete in 2024. Recent reports suggest that David Stearns is turning his primary attention towards filling out the bullpen, a deed he proved to be quite skilled at during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers, but it’s more or less been crickets regarding another obvious need.
The designated hitter spot provided plenty of headaches for the Mets in 2023 as the team mustered a .217/.309/.391 slash line to go with a 95 wRC+ at the position. Daniel Vogelbach exiting stage left this offseason has freed up nearly 300 plate appearances in his absence, though the current in-house solutions aren’t exactly inspiring. As of this moment, DJ Stewart and Mark Vientos would appear to be the leading candidates to step into that role. Stewart impressed with 11 home runs and a .244/.333/.506 slash line, but concerns with his profile still exist, and he doesn’t yet have a track record of consistency in the majors.
As for Vientos, he showcased his dynamic raw power at times during his rookie season and has the pedigree of a former top prospect in the organization, so it’s fair to assume he has his fair share of believers. However, he also displayed a concerning lack of plate discipline and dependability that makes it tough to heap a ton of responsibility on him as he transitions into what would be his first full season with the big-league club.
While the thought process behind giving Stewart, Vientos, and others a chance to prove themselves in what may turn out to be a transition year makes sense in theory, the Mets simply cannot rest on their laurels as it relates to the designated hitter role. There’s an abundance of quality options on the open market deep into the offseason, and it would behoove the Mets to seriously explore their choices. With that, let’s take a look at four players that would make a ton of sense for the Mets’ theoretical designated hitter opening.
Jorge Soler
Jorge Soler encompasses everything the Mets should be looking for in a designated hitter. After signing a three-year, $36 million deal with the Miami Marlins heading into 2022 following a heroic postseason run with the Atlanta Braves that culminated in a World Series MVP, Soler appeared in only 72 games during his first year with the Fish due to injury and did not play up to his usual standards. He bounced back in a big way in 2023, however, as he hit .250/.341/.512 with 36 home runs and a 126 wRC+ en route to the first All-Star nod of his career.
Soler is one of the game’s premier power hitters who possesses a strong eye at the plate while also having an affinity for mashing lefties, evidenced by his 1.080 OPS and 181 wRC+ against them last season. With his long track record of success, Soler has no shortage of suitors after opting out of the last year of his pact with Miami and will likely command another multi-year commitment. While that may push Stearns and company past their comfort zone, pairing Soler with Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor in the middle of the lineup would do wonders for the Mets’ offense.
J.D. Martinez
If there were any questions about whether or not J.D. Martinez still had it going into 2023, he answered them right out of the gate. After dealing with an adductor injury and a host of back issues that appeared to sap some of his power with the Boston Red Sox in 2022, Martinez returned to prime form upon being reunited with Mookie Betts and hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. A few swing changes later, and he hit .271/.321/.572 with a 135 wRC+ and 33 home runs in 113 games on his way to being named the National League’s starting designated hitter in the All-Star Game.
Martinez will be entering his age-36 season in 2024 and missed considerable time last season while seeing both his strikeout and walk rates move in the wrong direction, so any pursuit should come with a bit of hesitation. Still, Martinez will likely only command a one-year deal that would fit into both the Mets’ short and long-term financial plans while also providing a dependable veteran bat that satisfies the team’s need for pop in the middle of the order and could be flipped at the trade deadline if necessary.
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Justin Turner
A long-time Stearns target, Justin Turner, returning to his old haunts in 2024 would be beneficial for both parties. Turner spent parts of four seasons in New York before getting designated for assignment following the 2013 season. He never looked back from there as he blossomed into one of baseball’s best third basemen as well as a two-time All-Star and World Series champion during his nine-year stint with the Dodgers. With the Red Sox in 2023, he appeared in 146 games and hit .276/.345/.455 with 23 homers and a 114 wRC+.
Turner’s experience at the hot corner may make him a better fit on paper over the other candidates after Ronny Mauricio’s season-ending knee injury, though it’s unlikely he’d be seen as anything more than insurance in that regard after playing only seven games at the position last season. The 39-year-old Turner is a fantastic clubhouse presence as well, and his bat still has enough mileage to the point where he could situate himself as the Mets’ primary designated hitter while remaining productive.
Joc Pederson
If the Mets were set on implementing a platoon at designated hitter alongside Vientos in order to ease his workload, you can’t do much better in that department than Joc Pederson. Pederson was an All-Star in 2022, his first year with the San Francisco Giants, and finished the year with a .274/.353/.521 slash line to go with 23 home runs and a 146 wRC+ in 433 plate appearances. He took a slight step back in 2023 while hitting .235/.348/.416 with 15 homers and a 111 wRC+, though his improved plate discipline was a notable development to keep an eye on.
Pederson’s inability to play every day certainly hurts his case here as carrying a platoon DH on your roster isn’t optimal, which the Mets learned with Vogelbach last season. Pederson’s skill set may also be a bit redundant with Stewart’s, though Pederson’s upside and resume would likely set him apart. With the team’s need for power, Pederson may still represent a fit for the Mets, depending on what direction they take their search.
