Mets Organizational Depth Chart: Third Base

The New York Mets have a nailed-on starter in plenty of areas on the diamond, but one position that is filled with unknowns is third base. Seven different players made at least one start at the hot corner during the 2023 season, four of which remain in the organization. Regarding player personnel, third base is a position that must be addressed once David Stearns selects a manager. Let’s continue this series by taking a deep dive into the organization’s depth at third base in preparation for 2024.

Big League Starter

While his 2023 campaign was far from impressive, this might be Brett Baty‘s job to lose in the short term. The former first-round draft pick made a team-high 94 starts at third base last season despite all of his struggles at the plate. Baty failed to find any sort of consistency with the bat, slashing .213/.275/.323/.598 with nine home runs, 34 runs batted in, and a 65 OPS+ in 389 plate appearances. The 23-year-old was expected to be a big piece for the Mets for years to come, but that has yet to come to fruition.

Unless the front office decides to add a big name through free agency or via a trade, Baty will probably be the starting third baseman on Opening Day. But his leash is starting to shorten, as finding a stable solution at that position will become an even bigger priority. Baty’s rapid progression through the minor leagues gave fans hope that he could be the team’s third baseman for the next decade. If his offense can take a step forward and he shows improvements defensively, he can still be that guy. But at this moment in time, there are plenty of questions regarding Baty and his overall performance at the big league level.

Big League Depth

The Mets have their fair share of depth at third base, especially when you include players who are capable of filling in at multiple positions in the infield. Luis Guillorme, who spent quite a bit of time in Triple-A Syracuse last season, has been a swiss-army knife for the big league Mets since 2018. The 29-year-old only had 120 plate appearances in 54 games, slashing .224/.288/.327/.615 with one home run and nine runs batted in. Guillorme has always been known for his defense, specifically at second and third base. He won’t be a free agent until 2026, so expect to see him all over the infield for the Mets throughout the 2024 season.

Mark Vientos (19 starts at 3B) and Ronny Mauricio (five starts at 3B) will also be in contention to be the full-time starter at third. Both players are young and have the potential to be important pieces in the team’s quest to return to the postseason, although their best position(s) are still unclear. Vientos is a candidate to be the starting designated hitter as the backup to Pete Alonso at first base. Mauricio can play shortstop, second base, third base and the Mets may look to play him in left field occasionally.

Both Vientos and Mauricio were everyday starters throughout September, which should give each of them confidence going into spring training. The question is, what kind of role will they have on the big league roster in 2024? Vientos is not a strong fielder, particularly at third. If he wants to earn playing time at that position, his defense must take a significant step forward. As for Mauricio, his amount of playing time will largely depend on where Jeff McNeil features. If he [McNeil] plays in the outfield, more playing time will be up for grabs at second base. Otherwise, getting more reps at this base will be important for Mauricio.

Upper Levels Depth

The organization has a few minor leaguers to keep an eye on at third base, one being Jeremiah Jackson. He was acquired in the deal that sent reliever Dominic Leone to the Los Angeles Angels before the trade deadline. The 23-year-old had a strong finish to the 2023 campaign in Double-A Binghamton, slashing .264/.344/.457/.802 with seven home runs, 24 runs batted in and seven stolen bases in 37 games. He played a crucial role in the Rumble Ponies advancing to the Eastern League Championship Series when they fell to the Erie SeaWolves in two games. Jackson could be in line to start the 2024 season in Triple-A Syracuse. Jackson played five different positions in 37 games with Binghamton, including eight games at third base.

Luke Ritter, a 26-year-old who can play all over the infield, showed quite a bit of power throughout the 2023 season. He hit a total of 27 home runs in 107 games, split between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. Ritter is at an age where he should be closing on a major league debut. He will hope to complete that goal at some point next year. José Peroza is another name to watch out for, who climbed all the way up from Single-A St. Lucie to Triple-A Syracuse in one season. Peroza played in 109 games last year, slashing .249/.347/.419/.766 with 12 home runs and 61 runs batted in.

Potential Acquisitions

If the front office has concerns about Baty, Vientos and Mauricio, especially in the short term, the Mets could add a veteran into the mix. Evan Longoria, who will play in the World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, will be a free agent at the end of the postseason. The team could also look into signing former Met Justin Turner, although in order for that to even be a possibility, he would have to decline his $13.4 million player option with the Boston Red Sox. The Mets could attempt to sign either one of those veterans to a one-year deal or a one-year deal with a player/team option for 2025 if they take that route.

Matt Chapman is the most intriguing name on the list of free agents after spending of the last two seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. The three-time Gold Glove winner will be searching for a long-term deal, so the Mets will only be in play for him if they were to trade their internal options and/or want to make sure they have more security at the position. But if the team chooses to retain their young talent, signing a veteran to a one-year deal seems like the most likely option at third base.

Catcher
First Base
Second Base
Shortstop

The post Mets Organizational Depth Chart: Third Base first appeared on Metsmerized Online.