Previous NL East Position Rankings:

• First Base
• Second Base
• Third Base
• Shortstop
• Starting Pitching
• Left Field
• Right Field

No. 5: Avisaíl García – MIA

A season out from having one of the best-designated hitters in the league in Jorge Soler, the Marlins find themselves searching for a new solution at the role. Avisaíl García makes the most sense heading into the season as of now. Fleshing out the infield was the top priority heading into the offseason for the Fish, and in doing so, they sacrificed a bit of power.

When they signed García to a four-year deal in the 2021 offseason, he was coming off a .262/.330/.490 season and had his second-best OPS+ season with 119. His time in Miami, however, has been disastrous, with a lingering hamstring injury forcing him on and off the IL list. In two years with the Marlins, he’s played less than 150 games and has only hit 11 home runs, 12 doubles and struck out 148 times.

Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4: Mark Vientos – NYM

While DJ Stewart will see time at the role, the DH spot is Mark Vientos‘ to lose in 2024. The “will they, won’t they” saga of signing a DH has been one of the hottest stories of the offseason for the Mets. With options dwindling, they might be waiting for the prices to drop for J.D. Martinez, but as of now, Vientos is their guy.

He played 65 games in 2023, and it doesn’t feel like he did. The biggest issue with Vientos was playing time, and he hasn’t gotten a chance to show what he’s got. The Mets are high on him and need to see what he’s got. His 10 career home runs in 274 plate appearances should be taken with a grain of salt.

One positive has been his exit velocity. According to Statcast, Vientos landed in the top five percent of the league in max exit velocity, averaging 114.9 mph. His 51.0% hard-hit percent also lands him in the top percentiles in the league. While the DH position isn’t set in stone for the Mets, expect Vientos to be the guy as of now.

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3: Joey Meneses – WSH

There were doubts whether Joey Meneses would sustain the type of success he displayed when he debuted in 2022. After hitting .324/.367/.563/.930 in 56 games in 2022, Meneses followed his sensational debut with a .275/.321/.401/.722 slashline in his first full year in the majors. He led all designated hitters in hits (168), games (154) and doubles (36). He also ranked fourth in batting average behind Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper and Justin Turner. 

With the Nationals in the middle of a rebuild, Meneses, who cracked the big league roster after a decade-long stint in the minors, looks to be a long-term fixture in Washington. Of concern is his ground ball rate. It leaped up from 2022, going from 44.8% to 48.6%. For a guy lacking in speed, that can turn into trouble when in key situations down the road.

No. 2: Marcell Ozuna – ATL

Hate him or love him, there’s no denying that Marcell Ozuna put up one of the best performances of 2023. He ranked in the 98th percentile in xSLG (.581) and barrel percentage (16.6%), 96th percentile in xwOBA (.396), 91st percentile in batting run value (25) and 89th percentile in xBA (.283). Simply put, Ozuna had a monstrous 2023. He finished the year with 40 homers, third best on the Braves, 29 doubles and 100 RBIs. Ozuna’s 139 wRC+ was 11th best in all of baseball.

However, it’s not the first time the power-hitter saw an outage when it came to the postseason. In the Braves’ single-game series, Ozuna’s postseason struggles continued when he only managed two hits in thirteen at-bats, and both were singles. Ozuna is no stranger to cold streaks, as he’s had somewhat of an up-and-down career. He’s never been able to find consistent success at the plate, so it’ll be curious what 2024 brings him after a hot 2023.

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1: Kyle Schwarber – PHI

No surprise here. When Kyle Schwarber is on a role, he’s unstoppable. Who can forget his home run tyranny in June 2021, hitting 16 bombs in an 18-game span? Never one to hit for average, Schwarber is all about home runs and surprisingly, walks. It’s one of the most interesting stat lines in all of baseball. In 2023 Schwarber hit .197/.343/.474. To compare, Ozuna’s OBP for 2023 was .346, just a tick higher than Schwarber’s, but he hit .274.

Schwarber finished second in baseball in home runs with 47, and hit all 47 hard. He ranked in the 94th percentile in average exit velocity (92.4 mph) and the top four percent of the league in max exit velocity at 115.2 mph. When he’s not hitting homers, the next best thing about Schwarber is his ability to walk at a high rate. His 17.5% BB percentage ranked in the 99th percentile in all of baseball and was the best of his career.

With Bryce Harper taking residence at first base, it’s likely Schwarber will take up the DH role full-time after playing in the outfield. This isn’t the worst thing for the Phillies, as Schwarber was never the best defender; he had a -20 run value in 2023.

The post 2024 NL East Positional Rankings: Designated Hitter appeared first on Metsmerized.

Ronald Acuña Jr.

One phrase to describe the right fielders in the National League East? Top heavy. Continuing MMO’s series of position rankings in the NL East, here are the rankings of right fielders in the division.

Avisail Garcia. Photo via USA Today.

5. Avisaíl García, MIA

Avisaíl García had a underwhelming 2022 season after signing a four-year, $53-million contract with the Miami Marlins. The 31-year-old outfielder was limited to just 98 games, slashing .224/.226/.317 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in 380 plate appearances. García finished the year with a -1.1 WAR, the lowest total of his career.

The one-time All-Star was down in nearly every offensive category from the year prior. Specifically, his plate discipline took a turn for the worse, with his walk rate going from 7.4% in 2021 to 4.5% in 2022 and his strikeout rate going from 23.5% in 2021 to 28.7% in 2022.

García lands as the fifth-best right fielder in the division following his 2022 season. He could bounce back in the second year of his contract, but the outfielder is now on the other side of 30. The Marlins’ lineup lacks power, something that García has provided in the past (hit 29 home runs in 2021 with the Milwaukee Brewers).

Lane Thomas. Photo via USA Today.

4.  Lane Thomas, WSH

Lane Thomas played a significant role in his first full season in the Washington Nationals’ organization. The former 2014 fifth-round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays was acquired by the Nationals at the 2021 trade deadline. He then hit .270 with a .853 OPS in 206 at-bats in the second half of that season.

His overall numbers decreased with more plate appearances in 2022, slashing .241/.301/.404 with a 103 OPS+ in 146 games. Thomas showed off some power as well, hitting 17 home runs and 52 RBI, both of which were career highs. Punch outs became a large part of his game with more playing time, striking out 132 times good for a 24.1% strikeout rate.

Thomas slots in as the fourth-best outfielder in the division because of his age and his ability to play more than one position. The 27-year-old can play all across the outfield, especially on the corners. He also adds the speed element, tallying eight stolen bases in 12 opportunities.

For a Nationals team that is in the midst of a rebuild, Thomas is someone manager Dave Martinez can rely on to play everyday.

Nick Castellanos. Photo via USA Today.

3. Nick Castellanos, PHI

Nick Castellanos signed a five-year, $100-million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies last off-season. Going into the year, the plan for the former Cincinnati Red was to see him get a lot of his playing time as a designated hitter. That all changed as soon as Bryce Harper suffered a small tear to the UCL in his right elbow, meaning that he could only hit when he returned from the injured list later in the season.

Castellanos, who has never been known as a great defender, all of sudden slotted in as the everyday right fielder. The 30-year-old had to think about more than just hitting, which you have wonder if that impacted his numbers at the plate.

The Phillies‘ slugger struggled with the bat, slashing .263/.305/.389 with only 13 home runs and 62 RBI in 136 games. In comparison, Castellanos hit .309/.362/.576 and was an All-Star with the Reds in 2021.

The outfielder had some big moments in the Phillies playoff run, most notably a diving catch in Game 1 of the World Series against the Houston Astros. Castellanos has been a very solid player for a numbers of years, and it would not be surprising if he bounces back in 2023. With that being said, he ends up as the third-best right fielder in the NL East going into the season.

Starling Marte. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

2. Starling Marte, NYM

Starling Marte had an excellent season with the New York Mets in 2022, hitting .292/.347/.468 with 16 home runs and 63 RBI  in 118 games. The outfielder did have two separate injuries over the course of the year, but his impact was evident when he was on the field. Marte was an All-Star and finished 19th in National League MVP voting.

The biggest concern with Marte going into the 2023 season is his health. The 34-year-old underwent core surgery after the Mets were eliminated from the playoffs, somerthing he has still yet to recover fully from. His availability for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, which starts in March, is unknown. Marte could miss some time to begin the year, but his return should come at some point in April at the latest.

When Marte is on the field, he is one of the most dynamic outfielders in the game. He was great in his first season with the Mets, now, it is just about continuing that success in 2023. Marte’s all-around game places him at a very comfortable second place.

Ronald Acuña Jr. David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL

Ronald Acuña Jr. began the 2022 season on the injured list after tearing his ACL in July of 2021, missing the Atlanta Braves run to the World Series that year. His recovery continued into the next season, as his 2022 debut did not come until April 28.

Acuña was good throughout the year, but it was clear that he wasn’t quite back to full speed following the significant injury. He still put up some decent numbers, slashing .266/.351/.413 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI in 119 games.

The 25-year-old will be a year-and-a-half removed from the ACL injury when the season begins in late March. Acuña is a top-tier talent in MLB and should be in the running for an MVP in 2023.

Injuries will always be a concern with his aggressive style of play, but that is what makes him so special. He should be regarded as the unquestioned best right fielder in the NL East.

The post 2023 NL East Position Rankings: Right Field Edition appeared first on Metsmerized.

Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets (44-23) fought their way to victory on Saturday afternoon, besting the Miami Marlins (28-35) by a score of 3-2. Taijuan Walker reached another gear in one of his best starts as a Met, Francisco Lindor hit a home run for the second straight game, and the Mets are now 4-1 on their current homestand.

The Marlins were close to manufacturing a run against Walker in the first inning, as Jon Berti hit an infield single and proceeded to steal two bases without a throw. However, Walker struck out the next three batters, all looking, to end the frame and strand Berti at third base.

Eighteen in a row matches Taijuan Walker’s career high. pic.twitter.com/w5hs0FWMpG

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) June 18, 2022

Walker was truly brilliant from there. After that single to lead off the game, he retired the next 18 batters he faced, matching a career high. Along the way, he collected nine strikeouts, striking out three in an inning on two separate occasions. The Marlins had no answer for Walker, who looked about as good as he ever has in a Mets uniform.

The Mets’ offense got the ball rolling in the second inning, tallying a run against Marlins starter Braxton Garrett. Jeff McNeil muscled an RBI single to right field, putting the Mets up 1-0 early. It was yet another two-out run for the Mets, who have had a penchant for extending innings all season.

.@Lindor12BC keeps on crushing! 🍎 pic.twitter.com/HHn1sJQGFr

— New York Mets (@Mets) June 18, 2022

Things got better for the Mets in the third inning when Lindor launched his 11^th home run of the season to put his team up 3-0. It was only his third homer this season as a right-handed batter. He now has 51 RBI on the year, good for fourth in all of baseball.

Walker’s streak of retiring consecutive batters ended in the seventh, when Jazz Chisholm Jr. led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. Chisholm came around to score on a two-out double from Avisaíl García, breaking up Walker’s shutout and ending his night. Drew Smith entered the game and immediately shut down the threat, striking out Lewin Díaz to keep it a 3-1 game.

Smith breezed his way through the eighth inning, striking out two more batters and setting up the Citi Field crowd for trumpets. Edwin Díaz ran into a little bit of trouble in the ninth, allowing a two-out RBI single to Garrett Cooper to cut the lead to 3-2. However, Díaz struck out García for his third strikeout of the inning, ending the game and securing his 14th save of the season.

Player of the Game: Taijuan Walker

Walker was downright untouchable through the first six innings of the game. His 2.88 ERA on the season has been crucial for a Mets team that has missed their front-end starters for most of the season. Walker had not recorded more than six strikeouts in any of his first nine starts of the season, but he now has 19 strikeouts across his last two starts (12 2/3 IP).

Final line for Walker: 6.2 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 9 K

On Deck

The Mets will look to secure a series victory when they face off against the Marlins on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field. First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on PIX11. The Mets will have Chris Bassitt on the mound, while the Marlins are set to counter with presumptive NL Cy Young Award frontrunner Sandy Alcantara.

The post Taijuan Walker Dazzles in Mets’ 3-2 Victory Over Marlins appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Hot Stove is reaching a fever pitch just three days before a potential lockout between owners and the Players’ Association, with multiple deals reportedly being agreed to before Wednesday’s midnight deadline.

Semien Is Headed To Texas

Marcus Semien agreed to a seven-year, $175 million deal with the Texas Rangers, according to ESPN‘s Jeff Passan. Fansided‘s Robert Murray was the first to report Semien and the Rangers were in agreement on a deal for seven years.

Semien bet on himself in 2021 with a one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays after the Oakland A’s didn’t extend him the qualifying offer. In turn, he put up one of the better seasons in baseball, putting up a 131 wRC+ and .872 OPS en route to a third-place MVP finish. (He finished behind Shohei Ohtani and teammate Vlad Guerrero Jr.)

He’ll play the final year of his contract at age 37.

This is the largest contract of the 2021-2022 offseason so far, clearing Starling Marte‘s contract by nearly $100 million. It, however, will not be the biggest, with fellow middle infielders Carlos Correa and Corey Seager expected to clear Semien’s number. Trevor Story could, too, and Passan reported that the Rangers could be in on Story’s services, as well.

Avisaíl Garcia Joins Miami

The Miami Marlins have locked down right fielder Avisaíl Garcia to a four-year, $53 million deal. Craig Mish was the first to report the two sides were nearing a deal.

Garcia gives the Fish their long-coveted outfielder. A team with a young, strong rotation, the Marlins spent the last two months of the 2021 season testing out rookies and inexperienced players in the outfield, including Bryan de la Cruz, Jesus Sanchez, Lewis Brinson and sometimes catcher Jorge Alfaro. Garcia will bring a consistent veteran presence to the outfield.

The 30-year-old spent the last two years with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he posted an .820 OPS and 117 OPS+ in 135 games in 2021.

Byron Buxton Locks In Massive Extension

The über-talented but oft-injured Byron Buxton agree to a seven-year, $100 million extension with the Minnesota Twins.

Buxton only played in 61 games in 2021, but when he did play, he had an OPS over 1.000 and mashed 19 homers.

Jeff Passan reports that Buxton has a handful of significant MVP bonuses, including $8 million for a first-place finish. He gets other bonuses for crossing certain numbers of plate appearances. It’s a deal designed for a player who struggles to stay healthy.

The post MLB News: Semien to Rangers, Garcia to Marlins, Buxton Gets Extension appeared first on Metsmerized.

Good morning Mets fans! The New York Mets officially announced RHP Rick Porcello‘s one-year contract with the team on Monday. During a conference call with the media, Porcello said, “This is a big deal for me. I grew up a lifelong Mets fan as a kid. To get the opportunity to play for the organization that I cheered on for so many years is a huge honor.”

Latest Mets News

The $57 million renovations of First Data Field are expected to finish on Feb. 10 according to Keona Gardner of the Treasure Coast Palm. That is the same day that Mets pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report for spring training.

The Mets designated RHP Stephen Nogosek for assignment to make room on their 40-man roster for Porcello.

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com listed and wrote about the Mets’ top-10 defensive plays of the decade.

Danny Abriano of SNY looked at five relievers the Mets could target in free agency or in trades that could add the final piece to the bullpen.

Latest MLB News

The Milwaukee Brewers and OF Avisail Garcia agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

The Cincinnati Reds and LHP Wade Miley agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract with a team option for 2022 according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

The Houston Astros re-signed RHP Joe Smith to a two-year, $8 million contract.

The New York Yankees and RHP Adam Warren agreed to minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed C Luke Maile to a one-year contract.

The Texas Rangers signed C/OF Blake Swihart, LHP Brian Flynn, RHP Tim Dillard and RHP Arturo Reyes to minor league deals with invitations to spring training. The team also signed RHP Matt Bush to a two-year minor league contract.

Latest NL East News

The Philadelphia Phillies officially introduced RHP Zack Wheeler and SS Didi Gregorius at a news conference on Monday.

In response to comments made by Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen regarding the Mets’ projections for Wheeler not matching his market, Wheeler told Kevin Kernan of The New York Post, “I don’t need any more motivation. I already got it. But that’s his opinion. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but yeah, that may help me out a little bit.’’

Wheeler also complimented the Phillies’ analytics team and said, “I think it’s definitely going to help me get to that next step.”

The Washington Nationals are aggressively pursuing 3B Josh Donaldson according to Heyman of MLB Network. Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports reported that the Nationals are willing to pay Donaldson $90 million-plus for four years.

Latest on MMO/MMN

Matt Musico analyzed how Porcello’s pitch mix should change in 2020 to rebound from a tough 2019 campaign.

Tim Ryder uploaded the latest episode of the Simply Amazin’ podcast, with Michael Mayer as guest.

Michelle Ioannou wrote about Porcello’s Mets fandom as a kid.

Jack Ramsey wrote an “MMO Rumor Roundup.”

John Sheridan wrote about LHP Kevin Smith, who had a breakout season for the St. Lucie Mets in 2019.

This Day in Mets History

2012: The Mets completed a trade of RHP R.A. Dickey, C Josh Thole and C Mike Nickeas to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for C Travis d’Arnaud, RHP Noah Syndergaard, C John Buck and OF Wuilmer Becerra.

Birthdays: LHP Josh Edgin turns 33, RHP Dale Thayer turns 39, RHP Edwin Almonte turns 43 and LHP Bob Ojeda turns 62. 

The post Morning Briefing: Rick Porcello Officially Joins Favorite Childhood Team appeared first on Metsmerized.