Brett Baty was scheduled to play third base and bat cleanup for the New York Mets against the Houston Astros on Wednesday night. Instead, Mark Vientos started the game at third (instead of first) while Ji Man Choi manned first. Shortly after the game started, the New York Mets announced that Baty was scratched due to “minor back tightness” and is considered day-to-day.
The Mets say Brett Baty got scratched because of “minor back tightness.” He is day-to-day.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) March 13, 2024
Brett Baty Removed from Mets Lineup on Wednesday
Baty, 24, is the frontrunner to receive most of the playing time at third base this season. It doesn’t currently seem that Baty’s back issues will put Opening Day in jeopardy. However, it’s a notable development considering the state of the roster and available replacement options.
If Baty’s back causes him to miss time, Vientos would likely see increased time at the position. This would decrease his time as DH or on the bench but would give him his first consistent stretch of playing time in the majors.
Mark Vientos deep into the night! pic.twitter.com/Pvx1gAEKKH
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 14, 2024
If Vientos sees more time at third, more DH at-bats open up. In-house options for those at-bats include sluggers like DJ Stewart, Luke Voit, or Choi. Additionally, veterans like Starling Marte and Brandon Nimmo can DH more as a way to save their legs.
Joey Wendle can also fill in at third, but the Mets likely would rather use him as a part-time utility payer. Plus, Jeff McNeil‘s bicep could require Wendle to see more regular time at second base than initially hoped. Zack Short is also on the 40-man roster and can fill in at second, but that feels pretty uninspiring for a team with postseason aspirations.
Cautiously Optimistic
Update to this: the Mets expect Brett Baty back in the lineup tomorrow.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 14, 2024
Luckily, the Mets expect Brett Baty to be back in the starting lineup tomorrow, according to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. In the meantime, fans will likely still want the team to explore fallback options to sign in the event Baty reaggravates his injury. Potential additions include either J.D. Martinez or J.D. Davis. Martinez would get every day at-bats at DH while Davis and Vientos would split time between DH, third base, and, if needed, first base. Neither provide good defense at any position and must hit to have value.
Which J.D. for Mets? Any J.D.? And why?https://t.co/HzbzxdOStz
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) March 13, 2024
Reports have linked the Mets to Martinez continuously throughout the offseason. However, president of baseball operations David Stearns has made it clear that he wants young players, like Vientos, to get a shot at establishing themselves. For what it’s worth, Vientos hit his third homer of the spring on Wednesday. The Mets signing Martinez and clogging the DH spot does not seem likely.
Davis represents a better fit due to his ability to play defense, even at an average at best rate. If Baty and Vientos struggle to hit, Davis can fill in at third while veterans can rotate through DH. This flexibility gets lost with a full-time DH like Martinez on the roster. Plus, reports indicate that multiple teams have expressed interest in signing Davis, and he will likely sign with a team that can guarantee him everyday at-bats.
What To Do In The Meantime
Adding another player is not necessary right now. The Mets initially reported Baty’s back tightness as minor, and they will send him back out there on Thursday. Hopefully, all goes well as spring training continues. If the ailment does not progress well over the next couple days, then Stearns could look at bringing in more depth more seriously. Even then, Martinez continues to look like a rough fit for this roster.
Photo Credit: © Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
