With just three weeks left until pitchers and catchers start reporting to MLB camps in Florida and Arizona, the top end of the free agent market continues to move like molasses.
Some of the prime free agents—Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery—remain unsigned, and that’s trickled down to the designated hitter market. J.D. Martinez, Justin Turner, and Jorge Soler have merely had rumors attached to them (the Mets being connected somehow to all three), but there’s been no significant movement with them. It’s been mum around Joc Pederson, Rhys Hoskins and Brandon Belt, too.
Despite the Mets’ need for power bats, Ken Rosenthal’s Tuesday report analyzing the DH market reported that the Mets “do not seem inclined to spend on a DH, preferring to create opportunities for internal options such as Mark Vientos.”
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He also suggested Starling Marte, who is trying to get back to full speed in the Domincan Winter League after an injury-riddled 2023, could get plenty of run at DH this season. That makes sense given Marte is entering his age 35 season, and his defensive capabilities have fallen off. But this would also create a log jam at DH without a ton of solid defensive replacements in right field. Jeff McNeil could certainly play there, as could DJ Stewart. But you’d probably rather have Vientos’ power threat in the lineup as often as possible over Marte at DH, given Vientos acclimates better to MLB pitching this year.
Signing a DH wasn’t one of David Stearns’ priorities entering the offseason. Starting pitching and improving the defense were areas Stearns looked to improve the team without breaking the bank. But the Mets have made no improvements in the power department this offseason. Could the market reach the point where one of the aforementioned names become a steal? The Mets could then be inclined to sign someone. But for now, as the spring approaches, it looks like Mark Vientos will get a good and honest look at DH. They’ll be banking on his success.
Read our Crossfire on if the Mets should stick with internal DH options or sign someone.
