Luis Severino‘s gutsy outing. Jose Iglesias‘ all-time heart and hustle play that started a monstrous five-run fifth inning. Carlos Mendoza pushing all the right buttons in key moments. An electric outing from the bullpen.

All those factors were critical in New York pulling out a statement win and moving a step closer to advancing to the NLDS.

And, yet, arguably the most important ingredient in the Game 1 win was the clutch hits the Mets got from their two designated hitters.

Photo by Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

COMING THROUGH WHEN IT MATTERS THE MOST

Jesse Winker and J.D. Martinez were virtual non-factors in the month of September. The duo combined for just nine hits, one home run, two doubles, eight RBIs and 25 strikeouts in 97 at-bats. Yet, by the end of Game 1, both had come up with monster hits that proved to be huge in the overall context of the game.

It all started with Winker. The former Mets killer stepped up to the plate with two runners on and with the Brewers leading 2-0 early. Going up against the righty Freddy Peralta, Winker forced a full count in a real gutsy at-bat. Consequently, the veteran put himself into a position to hammer a changeup into right-field and drive in two runs with a triple.

All of a sudden, the Mets found themselves in a tied game. And Winker broke an 0-for-15 slump and improved to a career 7-for-20 against Peralta. Furthermore, Winker sparked his teammates into life with his celebration, injecting a much-needed jolt of energy into the game for the road team. He did all of that despite having missed a number of games with back tightness.

Winker’s productive and timely at-bat flipped the script.

From there, the Mets rallied for five runs in a gargantuan fifth inning, sparked by Iglesias’ epic hustle play. Leading 6-4 thanks to Mark Vientos‘ two-run single, it was time for Martinez to enter the game. The veteran, who knows a thing or two about hitting in the postseason, replaced Winker at DH as a pinch-hitter.

Photo by Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

BOUNCING BACK

Without a doubt, Martinez was in worst shape than Winker heading into Game 1. He was recently engulfed in a career-high 0-for-36 slump. It was also the longest hitless streak by a Met this year. Martinez had all of a sudden become an anchor that was weighing the entire lineup down. He was hurting his team, more than helping them.

However, as all great hitters are able to do, Martinez flicked a switch once postseason play began and the stakes heightened. Going up against a lefty in Aaron Ashby, Martinez fell behind in the count 0-2. It looked like his recent titanic struggles would continue. But, again, the six-time All-Star has built a career on coming up with big hits when it matters the most. Especially in October. As a result of that pedigree, Martinez was able to battle back and send a curveball into right field with a two-run single. That made it an 8-4 game and those runs proved to be the last ones scored. Martinez’s gritty at-bat effectively sealed and iced Game 1 for the Mets.

As much as Iglesias’ display of pure hustle changed the tenor of the game, Winker and Martinez both coming up with clutch at-bats proved instrumental. You need big-time production from the DH spot, especially in the postseason. Furthermore, with Francisco Lindor still clearly not right and Pete Alonso still being unable to really take over games, the Mets are going to need Winker and Martinez to step up.

Both players did exactly that in Game 1. And you can argue both designated hitters coming through in big spots ultimately proved to be the big swing of momentum in the opening game of the Wild Card series.

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Daniel Vogelbach. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Ever since the National League instituted a permanent DH, the Mets simply have not been able to get much at all from the position. In the first half of 2022, the team thought they could mix and match players like J.D. Davis, Dominic Smith, and Robinson Canó but failed to get consistent production. Then, they made trades for the likes of Darin Ruf and Daniel Vogelbach to mixed results.

Entering 2023, Ruf was cut before the season began, but Vogelbach was slotted in as the team’s primary DH against right-handed pitchers. While Vogelbach has a fun personality and a great eye at the plate, his production has simply not been there, and it’s now time for the Mets to accept he is not the answer.

After going 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts on Tuesday night, Daniel Vogelbach is 6-for-47 with 1 extra-base hit, 1 RBI, and 16 K's.

He's now hitting just .209/.345/.304 for the season.

Mets have to make a decision here. Can't continue to get zero production from primary DH.

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) June 7, 2023

Vogelbach has hit just two home runs this year, but for a while, his ability to draw walks and get on base was still a somewhat valuable asset. However, in recent weeks, he hasn’t even been doing that. His slugging percentage has dropped to just .304, and he has collected only 1 RBI in the last month.

Somewhat inexplicably, Buck Showalter decided to bat Vogelbach fifth in last night’s series-opening loss to the Braves. Vogelbach struck out three times on the day and grounded out in his final plate appearance in the ninth inning.

The Mets are in a position where they need to once again take action to fix their DH position. The team called up Mark Vientos three weeks ago but has been playing him sparingly in favor of veterans like Vogelbach and Tommy Pham. While Vientos hasn’t exactly lit up opposing pitching thus far in his big-league career, he hasn’t been able to establish any sort of a rhythm due to his inconsistent playing time.

The longer the Mets wait to move on from Vogelbach, the less time they will have to determine if Vientos is a viable option moving forward, or if the team needs to consider making a move before the MLB trade deadline. Despite their 30-31 record, the Mets will assuredly be buying at the deadline as they try to turn their season around. With the bullpen and possibly the starting rotation being top priorities, the team would probably love it if they could rely on internal options to lengthen out the lineup.

To make matters worse, the Mets, who have a thin bullpen right now and are desperate for reliable late-inning relievers, could really use someone like, say, Colin Holderman (2.74 ERA in 23 IP) who the Mets traded for Vogelbach last season.

Vientos, Mark Canha, and even Francisco Álvarez profile to be better DH solutions right now than Vogelbach. It’s clear Showalter has an affinity for him, but the Mets simply don’t have time to let him to continue to take up more at-bats from such an important position in the lineup. Plus, letting go of Vogelbach may allow the Mets to make room for Ronny Mauricio (if he is healthy), who has been tearing it up in Triple-A. Or, it gives them the flexibility to bring back up someone like Luis Guillorme, or try out Danny Mendick. While they aren’t likely to be better offensive options than Vogelbach, they at least play the field, giving the Mets and Showalter more versatility when crafting the lineup card.

The Mets have already made a difficult decision to move on from a veteran this week by DFAing Tomás Nido. While letting Vogelbach go may not be as straightforward a choice, it’s becoming a more and more obviously the right decision as the days go on. If the Mets feel that’s too drastic of a step to take, they need to at least limit him to pinch-hitting spots against right-handers and stop putting him in the lineup, especially batting fifth.

The Mets’ lineup has struggled to score consistently and is becoming overly reliant on home runs to keep them in games, the opposite of the problem they had in the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, Vogelbach isn’t hitting home runs or getting on base consistently, meaning he’s making the lineup worse. It’s time for the Mets to make a tough decision, before it gets worse.

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Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Cohen has spent a copious amount of money throughout the offseason to improve the team for 2023. However, one position the Mets didn’t seem improve on was DH. On Tuesday, Pat Ragazzao of Sports Illustrated spoke with Billy Eppler about how the DH will be utilized during the 2023 season.

“I would say the DH position is undefined,” Eppler told Inside the Mets by phone. “We have a number of players that contributed in it last year, but I would say it’s undefined.”

The Mets primarily started Daniel Vogelbach and Darin Ruf at DH after the 2022 trade deadline. In total, the Mets DHs slashed .218/.314/.371/.685, hit 18 home runs and recorded a 94 sOPS+. Of the 18 home runs hit by Mets’ DHs, in 2022, Pete Alonso hit six.

Ruf in particular struggled in the role after being traded to the Mets, slashing just .152/.216/.413, with a 20 OPS+.  He also did not hit a single home run. When asked about Ruf’s role on the team in 2023, Eppler said he was a part of the Mets’ plans.

“He’s got a long track record of hitting left-handed pitching,” Eppler said. “He hit left-handed pitching in 2022 and 2021. Unless some things have materially changed, we would bet that skill still exists in him.”

If Ruf has a bounce-back season with the Mets, they’ll be a drastically different team. In his career, Ruf holds a .523 slugging percentage against left-handers, which would be a jolt to a Mets lineup that slugged .394 against lefties in 2022.

In addition to Ruf, the Mets have an abundance of options at DH, and Eppler told Ragazzo that the team would use the position strategically this season.

“There’s a number of different ways we can utilize the DH on any given night. We’ve used it for workload management purposes and matchups. That’s ultimately what we will use spring training and the conversations with the coaching staff to figure out.”

Keeping the DH role as an open and versatile spot in the lineup is a good idea for the Mets, as they were the oldest team in MLB in 2022 and didn’t get younger through free agency. The DH role also paves the way for younger players such as Brett Baty and Mark Vientos to receive at-bats.

One prospect not named for the DH position however was phenom Francisco Álvarez. When asked by Ragazzo about the potential of Álvarez winning the DH role, Eppler stated that his development as a catcher was more important.

“’We see Francisco as a catcher over the long-term,” Eppler said of Álvarez. “So you wouldn’t be able to develop a guy as a catcher if he was sitting in the designated hitter role full time.”

Ragazzo also mentioned that Eppler and the Mets value Álvarez’s development as a pitch framer and receiver, solidifying that the Mets do not view him as a DH option.

With pitchers and catchers reporting in 16 days, Eppler was also asked if the Mets were still looking to add to the roster. The Mets GM stated that the club didn’t have much roster flexibility and was done adding position players.

“’Our roster is pretty well filled out with not a lot of flexibility left on the position player side,'” Eppler said. ‘There’s a number of people we either acquired or are on guaranteed contracts, so I think it’s not too difficult to start writing out the depth chart. It’s not a complete picture, but it’s a majority of the way there and we’ll look to define those roles over spring training.'”

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Free agent DH J.D. Martinez is in agreement on a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, as first reported by Robert Murray of FanSided. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Jon Heyman of The New York Post also reported the deal.

Per Passan, the deal is for one year and $10 million.

The Dodgers have been relatively quiet in free agency, despite losing shortstop Trea Turner who signed an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, but they have now added a tried and tested designated hitter to the heart of their lineup in Martinez.

For a team that already has Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, Martinez will provide another big bat given his ability to absolutely destroy baseballs. He can also get on base and put the ball in play, making him a dangerous player in the middle of any lineup, let alone one as talented as the Dodgers’. Plus, at just one year and for $10 million, Martinez is certainly a low-risk, high-reward type of player.

It is also worth noting that, per Passan, Martinez will reunite with hitting coach Robert Von Scoyoc, who is largely credited with being influential in Martinez’s ascent. Also, Martinez will team up again with Betts with the two largely successful together in Boston with the Red Sox. Von Scoyoc and Betts may well have been big factors behind Martinez’s decision to sign in LA.

Martinez spent the last five years with the Boston Red Sox where he was an All-Star every year apart from 2020, when there was no Midsummer Classic. He hit 171 doubles, 130 home runs and 423 RBI in 647 games for the Red Sox, helping them to win the World Series in 2018. He’s a career .288/.352/.520/.872 hitter with 282 homers and 899 RBI across a 12-year career in the majors.

The veteran slugger absolutely mashes against lefties with a career slash line of .306/.377/.579/.957 against LHP, to go along with 87 home runs, 95 doubles and 270 RBI. He made the All-Star Game in 2022 after hitting .302/.368/.481/.849 with 30 doubles, nine homers and 38 RBI during the first-half of the season. However, Martinez’s game dipped after the All-Star break as he slashed just .233/.301/.400/.701 with seven home runs and 24 RBI.

While Martinez struggled with power in 2022 with a total of 16 home runs, he still finished as one of the best designated hitters in all of baseball in 2022 having ranked 10th in wRC+ (119) among DH’s with a minimum of 400 PA in 2022. Plus, the 35-year-old hit 28 home runs as recently as 2021 and he sneakily ripped a career-high 43 doubles in 2022, underlining his ability to make things happen by putting the ball in play.

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Martinez was a player the Mets were interested in as they continue to try and add another big bat to their lineup. We looked at why the masher would help solve the Mets’ power problem here, but the veteran will now add to what is already a talented core in LA with the Dodgers. According to Bob Nightengale, MLB teams have now spent a staggering total of $1.193 billion this offseason following the signing of Martinez by the Dodgers.

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J.D. Martinez has long been linked with the New York Mets and he is exactly the type of player that could help solve their very real power problem in 2023.

It has been a significant offseason for the Mets who have made a very real statement with their spending. Owner Steve Cohen has flexed his financial might by committing over $300 million on payroll for the 2023 season. That has allowed the front office to re-sign star closer Edwin Diaz and outfielder Brandon Nimmo, as well as add the likes of Justin Verlander, David Robertson, Kodai Senga, José Quintana and Omar Narváez.

However, the Mets don’t appear to be done yet and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently reported that Cohen believes his team need to add more offense to their lineup for the 2023 season. Rosenthal mentioned Martinez and former Met Michael Conforto as two names the Mets are currently interested in.

We profiled Martinez as a free agent target earlier this offseason, which you can read here, and we’ve also covered in-depth why the Mets really do need to add more power to their lineup if they are to be serious contenders for the World Series in 2023. Martinez ticks a lot of boxes and could help address what was a fatal flaw in 2022.

The Mets tied for 15th in home runs last year with just 171 and they also finished with the fifth-worst hard-hit rate in MLB at 28.6%, per Fangraphs. Furthermore, this team got basically zero production from their designated hitters in 2022. As a collective group, the DH hit just .218/.314/.371 with 18 home runs and 183 strikeouts. Perhaps more importantly, though, the bats went cold at key points during both the regular season and in the postseason.

You can’t win without the long ball and Martinez has built a career based on taking the cover off the baseball. The slugger has blasted 282 home runs in a 12-year career and he’s excelled as a DH. The veteran also absolutely mashes against lefties with a career .306/.377/.579/.957 slash line against LHP, to go along with 87 home runs, 95 doubles and 270 RBI. The Mets could either look to use Martinez as part of a platoon at DH with Daniel Vogelbach, who hits well against righties, or look to trade Vogelbach for outfield help and use Martinez as an everyday designated hitter.

Martinez was an All-Star every year he was with the Boston Red Sox, except for 2020 when there was no Midsummer Classic. He made the All-Star Game in 2022 after hitting .302/.368/.481/.849 with 30 doubles, nine homers and 38 RBI during the first-half of the season. Now, granted, the righty did regress slightly in the second-half of the season with a .233/.301/.400/.701 slash line and seven home runs and 24 RBI.

However, despite his sudden decrease in power in 2022 with just 16 home runs in total, Martinez still finished as one of the best designated hitters in baseball in 2022 having ranked 10th in wRC+ (119) among DH’s with a minimum of 400 PA in 2022. Plus, he also hit 28 homers as recently as 2021 so that suggests that the power didn’t just disappear overnight. Instead, Martinez could just benefit from a change of scenery and his game may be revitalized by having the chance to compete for a World Series with a legit contender.

When looking at Martinez’s potential fit with the Mets, it is also important to point out that the slugger can contribute in other ways too. Rather than just being a one-trick pony, Martinez boasts a career .352 on-base percentage and can also put the ball in play and get on base at a high-rate. He had an on-base percentage of .341 in 2022, including a .368 OBP during the first-half of the season, and he sneakily ripped a career-high 43 doubles last year. That is a player who can impact the game in a multitude of different ways.

According to Spotrac.com. Martinez is projected to land a two-year deal with an average annual salary of $15.1 million. It may be that the Mets could get the veteran to sign a one-year deal with a slightly lower average annual salary and an option for 2024 in return for the opportunity to compete for a championship next year. But, be it a one or two-year contract, it would be a low-risk, high-reward kind of deal for both parties.

It can’t be stressed enough that the Mets need to address their lack of power this offseason or risk falling short in 2023, which would represent a major failure given their spending spree this winter. While Martinez is just one player, he can hit for power, he’ll add a big bat to the middle of the lineup and there’s no reason why he can’t hit between 25-30 home runs. Plus, he can also get on base at a high-rate, he’ll hit doubles for fun and he can either be the everyday DH or be part of a platoon with Vogelbach. No matter which way you look at it, Martinez would address a very real need for this team while also being able to bring other skillsets to the table.

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Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Updated Post – Dec. 15, 16:30 

Super agent Scott Boras accompanied client Brandon Nimmo at Citi Field on Thursday for the presser to announce that Nimmo will be a Met for life following an eight-year, $162 million deal signed by the outfielder.

During that time at Citi Field, Boras was asked about another client and former Met, Michael Conforto. The 29-year-old missed the entire 2022 season because of injury, but is healthy and is receiving interest from multiple teams that reportedly includes the Mets. “Michael is in Arizona, he’s doing great, he’s throwing normally again, back to full health, hitting great and we’re talking to a number of teams about him right now,” Boras said.

The Cubs, Astros, and Mariners are the other known teams to be competing for the services of the former Mets outfielder. Boras on what Conforto is looking for this offseason, “short-term, probably a couple of years with an opt-out.”

Original Post – Dec. 14, 08:10

What has been a blockbuster offseason looks set to continue for the New York Mets as they look to add more offense with a reported interest in free agents Michael Conforto and J.D. Martinez, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Reports emerged from Rosenthal and our very own Michael Mayer on Tuesday night that the Mets had been in contact with agent Scott Boras over star free agent shortstop Carlos Correa. However, that was one superstar the front office missed out on with Correa going on to sign a 13-year, $350 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. It’s the fourth-largest guarantee in MLB history, and also the largest deal for a shortstop. It surpassed the $341 million contract Francisco Lindor signed with the Mets.

However, owner Steve Cohen seems unperturbed by missing out on Correa and has instead turned his attention to other targets. Rosenthal noted in his story that, from people familiar with his thinking, Cohen believes that the Mets still need more offense and another bat despite an already incredible offseason. The Mets will already have a payroll that blows well past the $300 million mark in 2023, but it appears that the front office may add one more piece. We explored here why adding more power to the lineup is crucial.

And, per Rosenthal, Conforto and Martinez appear to be two players that are very clearly on the front office’s radar. It isn’t the first time this offseason that the Mets have been linked with a reunion with Conforto. The free agent outfielder missed the entire 2022 offseason with a shoulder injury. In his final season with the Mets in 2021, Conforto slashed .232/.344/.388 with 20 doubles and 14 home runs in 125 games.

With a 124 wRC+ and 132 homers over a seven-year career, coupled with the fact that he’s still only 29-years-old, Conforto could be an intriguing option for the Mets. He would provide some much-needed outfield depth and, if he can rediscover some of his power from earlier on in his career and remain healthy, he would inject some pop into a lineup that needs another big bat.

Another intriguing option for the Mets and the other player mentioned by Rosenthal is Martinez. The free-agent slugger was linked with a trade to Queens at last year’s trade deadline and he ticks a lot of boxes. The veteran has built a career on taking the cover off the baseball and, with a career on-base percentage of .352, Martinez would not only mash at Citi Field but he could put the ball in play and get on base at a high-rate.

Martinez is coming off a tough year in 2022 having hit just .233/.301/.400 after the All-Star break. He also hit just 16 home runs last year, but his solid .341 on-base percentage proves that he was still able to make things happen offensively. Plus, the 35-year-old still finished as one of the best designated hitters in baseball in 2022 having ranked 10th in wRC+ (119) among DH’s with a minimum of 400 PA in 2022. He also hit 28 homers as recently as 2021 so the lethal power is still very much there.

The five-time All-Star could benefit from a change of scenery in 2023 and he would greatly improve the Mets’ options at the designated hitter position. After all, they got little to no production from the DH spot in 2023, with the position collectively hitting just .218/.314/.371 with 18 home runs and 183 strikeouts. Furthermore, the Mets tied for 15th in home runs with just 171 last year and finished with the fifth-worst hard-hit rate in MLB at 28.6%, per Fangraphs.

As a result, the need for another big bat in the lineup is clear and both Conforto and Martinez would help address what is still a glaring need. Per Spotrac.com, Conforto is projected to sign a one-year, $20.7 million deal while Martinez could get a two-year contract with an average annual salary of $15.1 million on the open market.

There are internal options for the Mets, of course. Highly-rated prospects Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty, and Mark Vientos could all be in line for bigger roles in 2023, while Daniel Vogelbach remains on the roster. However, for a team that should be competing for the World Series next year, adding a legitimate and proven power bat would be the correct way to address a fatal flaw that really hurt this team in big spots both down the stretch and during the postseason in 2022.

And, for a team that has already added Justin Verlander, José Quintana, Kodai Senga and David Robertson this winter, and re-signed Edwin Díaz and Brandon Nimmo, going out and signing a player like Conforto or Martinez and adding yet another big-time weapon to this lineup would be another clear sign that Cohen will do whatever is within his power to help the Mets win in 2023 and beyond.

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Daniel Vogelbach

Player Data: Age: 29 (12/17/1992), B/T: L/R

Traditional Stats with Mets: 55 G, 183 PA, 149 AB, .255/.393/.436/.830, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 33 BB, 47 SO
Advanced Stats with Mets: 144 wRC+, 25.7 K%, 18.0 BB%, .333 BABIP, 1.0 fWAR, 0.9 bWAR

2022 Salary: $1 million

Grade: B

2022 Review

Daniel Vogelbach became a member of the New York Mets on July 22, when he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for rookie pitcher Colin Holderman. This was a significant move at the time, as the Mets traded away a young reliever in the midst of a fantastic first season in the majors for a pure power-hitting lefty bat, the type of player the Mets desperately needed. Some were disappointed in the trade as they wished Holderman remained a member of the team, while others lauded it as a necessary move for a Mets team needing some pop in its lineup.

At the time of the trade, Vogelbach played in 75 games with the Pirates and hit .228/.338/.430/.769 with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs. Despite a less-than-ideal batting average, Vogelbach’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage suggested that he was skilled at getting on base and providing power which is what made him an attractive trade option in the eyes of manager Buck Showalter and general manager Billy Eppler.

The biggest reason the Mets acquired Vogelbach is because they viewed him as part of the solution to two of the team’s biggest letdowns: the designated hitter role and the fifth spot in the order.

The Mets’ DH spot was a resounding disappointment in the first half of 2022. Dominic Smith and J.D. Davis combined for four home runs (all from Davis) and 24 RBIs in 221 plate appearances as a designated hitter. This lack of production forced Smith to be demoted to Triple-A and Davis to be traded at the trade deadline. As it pertains to the fifth spot in the order, this was the second-least productive spot in the order for the 2022 Mets only in front of the ninth spot. For all of 2022, Mets hitters in the fifth spot hit .215/.310/.343/.653 with 13 home runs and 70 RBIs in 691 plate appearances.

This type of repeated failure in both the designated hitter role and the fifth spot in the lineup was simply unacceptable, and Vogelbach was seen as the answer, at least against righties, to provide the quality results the Mets needed. Vogelbach has a career batting line of .238/.364/.458/.822 against righties, with 67 home runs and 190 RBI.

In short order after he was traded, Vogelbach became a fan favorite in New York. Fans and media alike were entranced by him in part because of his undeniable likability, but also because he got off to a hot start with his new team. From his debut on July 24 through August 22, Vogelbach batted a tremendous .284/.418/.541/.959 with four home runs and 15 RBI,s which must have exceeded even Showalter and Eppler’s wildest expectations.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Vogelbach came back down to Earth as the season winded down. From August 23 through the end of the season, he batted .227/.370/.333/.703 with two home runs and 10 RBIs. Then in the postseason series against San Diego, he was essentially a non-factor as he went 0-for-7 with a sacrifice fly in the three games.

In 2022, Vogelbach more often than not provided the Mets with exactly what they expected of him. He seemed at times to be the target of anger from fans who called the Mets’ trade deadline a failure, but it would be unfair to group him with the other players who were acquired, given his objectively positive performance with the team. He went through some cold stretches, but his ability to consistently get on base, hit for power and provide protection for Pete Alonso in the lineup was evident the entire time. His 139 OPS+ and 144 wRC+ with the team suggest that he was the massive upgrade they thought he would be, which is why he is deserving of a B grade.

2023 Outlook

On November 8, the Mets announced that they exercised Vogelbach’s club option for the 2023 season. The option was for $1.5 million, an easy decision for a player of Vogelbach’s caliber. A salary of only $1.5 million could make Vogelbach expendable if he fails to meet expectations, but the Mets fully expect him to outperform this number in 2023.

Barring any surprise free agent signings or trades, Vogelbach will once again be the Mets’ designated hitter against right-handed pitchers. He isn’t a multidimensional player, so he won’t provide defense or at-bats against lefties, but his ability to mash righties makes him a valuable asset for the team next season.

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Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

It was a frustrating Friday night for the Mets who couldn’t quite recover from allowing eight runs in the first two innings, but there were some positives to take from a 9-6 loss to the Braves at Citi Field. One of those positives was the first plate appearance in a Met uniform by Darin Ruf.

Acquired at the trade deadline from the San Francisco Giants, Ruf was hardly a sexy blockbuster addition but he was seen as a valuable piece that could contribute to the offense through the dog days of summer, down the stretch and, more importantly, in the postseason. Furthermore, the veteran has absolutely mashed against lefties throughout his career and that was a weapon the Mets were lacking.

Having acquired a big power bat in Daniel Vogelbach from the Pittsburgh Pirates before the deadline, Mets general manager Billy Eppler decided to use two players for the designated hitter spot. By opting to platoon Vogelbach and Ruf as the DH, it gives this team some flexibility in the lineup going forward.

That was certainly the case on Friday. With righty Ian Anderson on the mound to start the game for the Braves, Vogelbach was the starting DH and he went 0-for-2 with a walk. But, after the Braves brought lefty reliever Dylan Lee into the game to replace Anderson in the fifth inning, Mets manager Buck Showalter took his opportunity to bring Ruf into the fold as a pinch hitter.

DARIN RUF HITS A TWO-RUN DOUBLE IN HIS METS DEBUT! pic.twitter.com/xsR9dvTGXS

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 6, 2022

It was inspired thinking as Ruf made an instant impact, hitting a double off the wall in right field to score both Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil in an at-bat that couldn’t have gone much better. It was a huge, huge hit at that point of the game given that it got the Mets to within four runs of the Braves. Granted, it didn’t count for a lot in the end but the fact Ruf was able to come into the game and make such a significant impact highlights the veteran’s in-game experience and his ability to step up in big spots.

“I think it is understood,” Ruf said when asked about being brought into a game to face a lefty reliever. “It is not told to me but, throughout my experience and my role on teams over the years, I know I need to be ready for every opportunity like that whether they decide to pull the trigger in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth. Whenever that opportunity comes, I have to be ready for it.”

Ready for the moment Ruf was and Mets fans got a quick look at just how lethal he can be against lefties. And, when you look at his splits this season, it hammers home just how valuable a piece Ruf can be as part of a platoon at DH. In 75 games against righties, he’s hitting .190/.301./.266 with two home runs, six doubles, 14 RBI, 24 walks and 52 strikeouts in 158 at-bats. Compare that to 64 games against lefties where he’s slashing .257/.366/.531 with a .897 OPS, four doubles, nine home runs, 26 RBI, 16 walks and 33 strikeouts.

If you want a clearer pitcher of Ruf’s effectiveness as a platoon hitter, then let’s take a look at his career splits. In 905 career plate appearances against righties, the 36-year-old is .217/.302/.369 with 36 doubles, one triple, 28 home runs, 96 RBI, 88 walks and 272 strikeouts. Now, in 657 career plate appearances against left-handed pitchers, Ruf has hit .283/.380/.551 with a .931 OPS, 39 home runs, 28 doubles, two triples, 101 RBIs, 79 walks and 152 strikeouts.

Those splits, both this season and throughout his long career in the majors, paints a perfect picture as to how the Mets plan to use Ruf this year. They will bring him into games specifically to face lefties and, as was the case on Friday, Ruf’s ability to absolutely mash against left-handed pitchers will pose opponents with matchup nightmares on a nightly basis. While a small sample size, using Ruf as part of a two-headed monster platoon at DH with Vogelbach could prove to be a masterstroke move by the Mets. It certainly worked on Friday.

The post Darin Ruf Comes As Advertised, Proves Value As Platoon Hitter appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Position: First Base/Outfielder/Designated Hitter
Age: 30 (March 30th, 1992)
2022 Stats: 75 G, .281/.357/.428 SLG, .122 OPS+, 1.8 WAR

The New York Mets are in a bit of a situation, as the designated hitter role has become a point of weakness. Dominic Smith and J.D. Davis haven’t fit the bill this season, causing the Mets to inquire outside the organization. While players like Josh Bell and Andrew Benintendi are good options for that role, another player that might do well for New York in that situation is current Baltimore Orioles first baseman and designated hitter, Trey Mancini.

Mancini has hit 20+ home runs in every season he’s been in the league except for one, with his best season coming in 2019. That year, he hit .291/.364/.535 with 35 home runs, and 97 RBIs. Even after missing a whole season due to a cancer diagnosis, Mancini returned to the majors in 2021 with a solid season, hitting 21 home runs, 71 RBIs, with a 106 OPS+.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k01zeVgeFZc

Although his power numbers have been down this year, with only 8 home runs, Mancini is still boasting a high batting average with a .281 tally, along with a .357 OBP, a .428 SLG, and a .785 OPS. A big reason for this reduction of power could be due to the fences being pushed back at Camden Yards. An interesting statistic in the form of “Expected Home Runs By Park” shows something that could greatly benefit the Mets.

According to Baseball Savant, Trey Mancini’s 2022 expected home runs at Citi Field jumps from 8 to 16. Considering his already solid hitting numbers with a “dip” in power, the extra home runs he could provide for New York would be such a leap in production for a spot that sorely needs it. A combined total of three home runs between Davis and Smith, and 16 possible home runs in the designated hitter spot substantially helps the Mets and their chances to win on a nightly basis, at Citi Field and elsewhere.

Notably, 16 at Citi Field. The Mets have a need at DH. https://t.co/tfk8q4MGmE

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) July 6, 2022

Mancini also provides versatility in that he can play multiple positions such as first base, right and left field as well as filling in as a designated hitter. Added his familiarity with Mets manager Buck Showalter (who managed Mancini from 2016 to 2018) makes this all but a good fit for New York.

Mancini also has a $10 million option for next season, which means any trade wouldn’t be considered a rental. Right now, the Mets need help at the designated hitter position and while there are many potential options, few lack the versatility that Trey Mancini could provide for the Mets in this current stage.

The post Mets Potenial Trade Target: Trey Mancini, 1B/DH appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Yoenis Céspedes will begin what will likely be the final chapter of his Mets career on Friday in a new role: the team’s designated hitter.

The slugger confirmed to the media on Tuesday that the DH will be his initial assignment, though he is just as comfortable and ready to play the outfield.

“The way that I’m feeling right now I can DH, I can play left field. I’m equally as confident to do both,” he said through translator Alan Suriel.

Céspedes played in both exhibition games over the weekend against the Yankees, serving as the DH in the first and playing three innings in left field in the second. He went 0-for-6 and did not receive a chance in the field but the underlying results were positive.

“Despite not getting any hits in those games I felt a lot better than I thought I would feel,” he said.

In his first at-bat on Saturday — and first against another major league team since Jul. 20, 2018 — Céspedes nearly beat out a slow dribbler to third base despite running at no more than 80% capacity.

“That was intentional at the time,” he said. “The trainers have been telling me that as long as I run at about 80% I’m fine. My first reaction out of the box was to go fast but I remembered what they told me so that’s why I kind of slowed down.”

If that’s where Céspedes is at this point, his tenure as a DH might be more than brief. Manager Luis Rojas is nonetheless satisfied by the strides he has made, which has led to him being ready for Friday.

“Right now he’s as strong as you can count on him [to be],” Rojas said Tuesday. “The baserunning part is obviously not how it used to be as far as his speed but he’s been able to run at a competitive speed. His defense is also a progression.”

Céspedes has started 84 career games as a designated hitter, including his time in Oakland, Boston, Detroit, and New York.

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