After a breakout year for the New York Mets in 2019, shortstop Amed Rosario‘s future is as bright as ever. Though, if general manager Brodie Van Wagenen’s plan to “get creative” this offseason comes to fruition, the soon-to-be-24-year-old (November 20) could theoretically be a candidate to be moved.
On Friday, David Adler of MLB.com named Rosario, as well as many other Mets and Mets prospects (an interesting, worthwhile read), as potential chips in hypothetical — yet entirely conceivable and highly intriguing — trades for Boston’s Mookie Betts and/or Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor this winter.
Both Betts and Lindor are reportedly on the block and would considerably strengthen the Mets’ roster. Again, intriguing.
After an underwhelming start to Rosario’s highly-touted young career (.243/.280/.374, 4.1% walk rate, 76 wRC+ over 518 PA from his MLB debut on August 1, 2017, to July 30, 2018), the Dominican product eased his offensive game into another gear.
Beginning with his .284/.318/.413 slash line (102 wRC+) from August 1 through the end of the 2018 season and continuing through his solid 2019 campaign, the on-field product has begun living up to the elite-level hype that attached itself to Rosario as a teenage prospect.
After hitting .287/.323/.432 over 655 plate appearances last season, notching career-bests in doubles (30), home runs (15), RBIs (72), wRC+ (100), line-drive rate (22.4%), hard-hit and soft-hit rates (33.4% and 14.5%, respectively; the latter ranked 23rd in the NL and eighth-best among MLB shortstops), and wins above replacement (2.7; FanGraphs), Rosario’s presence at the plate is finally resembling that of a confident, able major league hitter.
His play in the field has left quite a bit to be desired (-16 DRS, -0.6 UZR/150 in 1,337.1 innings at shortstop in 2019, second-worst and 12th among qualified MLB SS, respectively), but Rosey’s obvious — albeit incremental — defensive progress over the second half of last season was encouraging.
Van Wagenen nixed the floated notion of Rosario making a shift to center field this week from the GM Meetings in Scottsdale, so one can only assume he’s locked into the shortstop position for the foreseeable future. Where the Mets go from here, though, is anyone’s guess.
With Ronny Mauricio (New York’s no. 1 prospect, no. 80 in the majors via MLB Pipeline) and Andres Gimenez (Mets no. 3, MLB no. 92) bubbling through the organizational ranks at a brisk pace (both are expected to debut within the next two years; Gimenez in 2020, Mauricio in 2022), Rosey’s got competition coming down the turnpike. Though, competition breeds excellence.
At this rate, and assuming all three are still in the organization, Rosario’s remaining pre-arbitration years should be filled with consistent heel-nipping courtesy of Gimenez, then Mauricio. That could result in a couple of scenarios playing out.
Rosey playing for his roster spot with a couple of blue-chips hot on his trail could bring the best out of him. His response to a growingly audible hum of “bust” talk certainly lends credence to that path.
Or, maybe Gimenez takes his red-hot performance in this year’s Arizona Fall League (.371/.413/.586, five doubles, two homers, two triples, 15 RBI) and runs with it, or Mauricio continues his surge, forcing the Mets’ hand.
In any case (it’s way too early to predict how this plays out), the Mets have options. That’s a good thing. All three of the Mets’ aforementioned shortstop options moving into the next decade are talented, exciting players, which is an even better thing.
However, packaging any of the three in a foundation-strengthening blockbuster to acquire a Betts or Lindor — one of the best shortstops in baseball — might be too enticing of an opportunity for Brodie & Co. to pass up.
Again, having options is a luxury. Now, the only hurdles that remain are the Mets’ decision-makers playing their cards right, both adequately and responsibly reinforcing this organization’s future. In other words, the highest hurdles you’ve ever seen.
