Who Will Be the Mets Third Baseman After 2023?

When the Mets appeared to be signing Carlos Correa, they were set to trot out Correa and Francisco Lindor on the right side of their infield for years to come. Alas, that’s not happening, and it’s time to move on.

Without Correa, the Mets long-term solution at third base remains in flux. The 2023 season will see Eduardo Escobar likely man the hot corner once again for New York as he finishes out the second year of a two-year contract he signed in 2021. Escobar was average a season ago, with a scorching September helping make up for a few dreadful months earlier in the season. He slashed .240/.295/.430 with 20 homers and 69 RBI.

While Escobar is a fine third baseman to have next season, it’s an open question what will happen after that. Here are some of the candidates for who the Mets will install at third base in 2024 and beyond.

Brett Baty

As of today, Brett Baty is the overwhelming favorite to be the team’s third baseman in 2024, but a lot can change in a year. Baty is one of the Mets’ top prospects and has a smooth swing with power that evaluators think will translate to the big-league level. We saw evidence of that when Baty got the call-up last September, and he delivered a memorable first big-league hit against the Braves.

Still, it’s important to remember a few things about Baty at this point. He remains only 23 years old and has played 17 total games above the Double-A level (11 in the big leagues and six in Triple-A). There are also questions that remain about his defense at third. Although Baty’s defense held up decently well during his short stint in the majors, you could see there was still some work that needed to be put in to make him an above-average player at that position.

Baty got reps in left field in 2022, and if the Mets believe he translates better long-term as an outfielder, they will need to look elsewhere to find their permanent third baseman. While unlikely, there’s also still the possibility that the Mets use Baty as a trade piece to acquire an elite talent mid-season like, say, Shohei Ohtani.

Baty’s development in 2023 is crucial to seeing where he fits in the Mets future plans. The team will remain in win-now mode as long as Steve Cohen is the owner, and if Baty is not ready to be an everyday big league player by Opening Day 2024, the Mets will need to make alternative plans.

Manny Machado

Two names will generate the majority of the attention in next year’s free agent class: Ohtani and Manny Machado. Machado once again put up MVP-caliber numbers in 2022 and will have an opt-out after next season, where he can hit free agency at age 31. With Cohen, the Mets can’t be ruled out for any elite free agent, and Machado would certainly fill a position of need.

While it feels more likely as of now that they would aggressively pursue Ohtani over Machado, that may depend largely on how the team feels about Baty following this season. And how the Mets overall offensive unit performs in 2023.

Matt Chapman

Besides Machado, the next-best free agent third baseman next season is Matt Chapman. Chapman is a three-time, Gold Glove winning player at the position and will turn 31 in the 2024 season. Chapman’s overall offensive numbers have fallen off the last two years, but he did club 27 homers in both 2021 and 2022.

Eduardo Escobar

Escobar will be the Mets primary third baseman once again in 2023, but it seems unlikely he will retain that role beyond this season. Escobar will enter the 2023 season at age 34, and his contract is up following this year.

Still, if Escobar produces at a high level this year and questions remain about Baty’s readiness, there’s no reason why he couldn’t be in the mix as a candidate to bring back in 2024 and continue to keep the seat warm before transitioning into a bench role. The Mets have a $9 million club option on Escobar’s contract that they can utilize if they believe he can still be a valuable asset for the 2024 season.

Luis Guillorme

While unlikely due to his lack of above-average offensive skills, you can’t rule out Luis Guillorme as the Mets’ third baseman in 2024. Guillorme is an elite defensive player who’s primary two positions are blocked long-term by Jeff McNeil and Francisco Lindor.

If he finds a way to add to his offensive repertoire in 2023, perhaps the Mets will give him a shot due to the lack of attractive third baseman available in the 2023 free agent market.

Other

Besides Machado and Chapman, there are no other elite third baseman set to enter the open market after this season. But if something happens with Baty, perhaps the Mets could turn to the likes of Josh Donaldson, Justin Turner, or Gio Urshela as a short-term solution. There’s also always the possibility of a trade bringing in someone unexpected.

One other name that has not been mentioned yet is Mark Vientos, another of the Mets’ top prospects. Although Vientos has played third in the past (including 59 games for Syracuse last season), it seems unlikely he will stick at that position and projects more as a 1B/DH type.

Ronny Mauricio also started playing some third base in LIDOM this offseason, moving away from shortstop for the first time in his professional career. Mauricio is unlikely to be ready to play third at the big-league level by 2024, but he’s a potential option there for down the road if the Mets hold on to him.

Final Thoughts

Without Correa, the long-term third-base job is Baty’s to lose. However, the Mets making a splurge for Machado or bringing in a different veteran to give him more seasoning in 2024 can’t be ruled out.

How the youngster develops in 2023 will go a long way in determining if the Mets have their first permanent solution at third base since the days of David Wright, or if they will need to go shopping once more next offseason.