Vientos

[Frayed Knot]

As reported by MetIrish in the IGT thread, Vientos sustained a "hand fracture" as a result of an HBP today. The specific fracture is not known (or just not public) at this time but this will almost surely be a significant spell on the IL. Six to eight weeks puts him at early/mid September at best.

So he goes from a breakout season in 2024 [134 OPS+ w/27 HRs in just over 2/3 of a season] to a significant step back in 2025 [96 OPS+ w/17 HRs in almost exactly the same # of ABs] to what can only be described as a totally lost season here in '26. His BA has dropped 55 points and his OBA 69 from '24 to '26 and, while the power still exists, it also is less frequent [IsoP = 250 in '24 vs 177 in '26]

 

Don't know quite where the Mets/he goes from here. He'll turn 27 this off-season and be arb-eligible for the first time. That certainly shouldn't make him too expensive to keep but that depends on what kind of role he might play in '27. 

[Cowtipper]

I hope he doesn't hurry back. 

[smg58]

He's a short-side platoon DH, or the 13th position player on the depth chart.  I can't see arbitration getting him a whole lot more than that's worth, so I'm willing to leave the light on for him. 

[Centerfield]

I get that we are disappointed in Mark. But a lefty masher who can play the corners in a pinch is a good guy to have on the team. I think you keep him for 2027 unless someone gives you something of value. I would not nontender or dump. 

[Edgy MD]

I was wondering who was going to get his gig — Mauricio, Melendez, or Morabito — but I guess the smart money isn't on any of the M-guys, but on Luis Robert coming back whether he's ready or not.

That would leave Wagaman and Ewing to serve as reserve infielders.

[metirish]

I really hope he can get back to something like his best,  he really was a joy to watch

[whippoorwill]

Lotta broken hands this season

[Cowtipper]

Mark Vientoad

[Gwreck]

On 7/9/2026 at 8:28 PM, Centerfield said:

But a lefty masher who can play the corners in a pinch is a good guy to have on the team.

Maybe?  But there’s no roster space for him on a competitive team.  

-We can all agree that Vientos is not good enough to not be one of the 9 regular starters.

-No team ever carries fewer than the maximum number of pitchers, leaving only 4 bench spots.  

-One bench spot is a backup catcher.  Another is almost certainly a backup outfielder, and a third is a backup infielder.  Vientos can only charitably be called an infielder, and he certainly couldn’t ever be expected to play a middle infield spot.

-So, does he really merit the last spot on the bench?  I’m hard pressed to say the Mets can’t do better.

[Chad ochoseis]

He demonstrated - once upon a time - that he could mash. The nice thing about a lost season like this one is that the team can afford to experiment. Put him back in the lineup when he's healthy and see if he figures it out. If not, he's a non-tender at the end of the season or maybe even a DFA before that.

[Benjamin Grimm]

He's fallen so far since 2024. 

[The Hot Corner]

I just don't see a place for Vientos in the Mets future.  Yes he is strong and has good power at the plate, but he has had 1328 at bats.  He has managed a .234 BA and .284 OBP over that span even with his one good year in 2024.  His career slugging of .429 with a career OPS of .716 just is good enough.  Add to the fact he is a below average defender at either corner and that he doesn't run well.  As Gwreck pointed out earlier, there just isn't a place for him on a team that seriously plans to contend for the post-season.  

[Centerfield]

6 hours ago, Gwreck said:

Maybe?  But there’s no roster space for him on a competitive team.  

-We can all agree that Vientos is not good enough to not be one of the 9 regular starters.

-No team ever carries fewer than the maximum number of pitchers, leaving only 4 bench spots.  

-One bench spot is a backup catcher.  Another is almost certainly a backup outfielder, and a third is a backup infielder.  Vientos can only charitably be called an infielder, and he certainly couldn’t ever be expected to play a middle infield spot.

-So, does he really merit the last spot on the bench?  I’m hard pressed to say the Mets can’t do better.

He has an .855 OPS against lefties. Has enough power to hit a late game HR. There’s room on a good team for a bat like that. 

[Centerfield]

As far as the fielding. You’ll have four bench guys. One is your backup C. One is your fourth OF. That leaves two additional players. If one is your backup infielder, another can just be a bat. You also hope your DH is capable of putting on a glove and not just being a DH. Polanco fits that description. 
 

I think I’d be fine with Vientos and Baty being the primary RH and LH pinch hitters. 

[ashie62]

When I see either Vientos or Batys face I recoil like the members of Animal House upon seeing pledge Flounders picture on the wall

A successful 2027-28 Mets ball club will not include Vientos

If he hadn't gotten hurt he could have helped a great number of teams now

Between them Vientos and Baty have logged roughly 18 years in the organization together. Enough

[Gwreck]

37 minutes ago, Centerfield said:

He has an .855 OPS against lefties. Has enough power to hit a late game HR. There’s room on a good team for a bat like that. 

If you think the .855 is sustainable.  That’s this year, in 95 PAs.  The career number against lefties is .779.

Vientos is also the slowest man alive and would need to be removed for a pinch runner in any game critical situation.  And he can’t be trusted to play effective defense anywhere.  (Compare to:  Baty, who can competently play at least 3 and maybe 5 positions).

 

[Centerfield]

.779 career against LHP is good.  Again, that number with power is a nice bat to have off your bench. 
 

Baty comes nothing close to that. (.686 and .537). 
 

And I get that Vientos does nothing well except hit LHP. He can’t run, he can’t field, he can’t even not waste challenges. But if you configure your bench well, you can carry him on a good team. 
 

I mean, having looked up horrible splits, I’m not sure Baty is preferable despite the defensive versatility. 
 

In my opinion, a good bench looks like this. 
 

1. Backup C.  
2. Backup OF. Preferably with speed so he can be your pinch runner.  
3. Backup IF. Preferably with the ability to play SS.  
4. Big bat off the bench. 
 

One of those guys has to give you a .750 OPS against RHP, another that gives you .750 OPS against LHP. And you hope your DH can play the field occasionally so you can give guys a day off from fielding. 

 

[Edgy MD]

Not the slowest man alive.   Not the slowest man in the big leagues.  Sandy Leon holds that crown.

Not even the slowest firstbaseman.  He's probably below average for firstbasemen, but not by a lot.  Guys like Pete Alonso and Matt Olson are generally slower.  Lots of others.

There's no expectation for his return this season, is there?  Some of the talk in this thread seems to suggest there might be.

[Centerfield]

I don’t know. He seems freakishly slow. 
 

The problem is I can figure out if I’m biased against him because his frame suggests he should be faster. He’s a fit slim young athlete. How is it possible he’s so slow. 
 

Someone compared him to Wilmer. That makes sense. It’s like their feet don’t work right. 

[Edgy MD]

Here's the 2026 sprint speed data.

[Centerfield]

Not nearly as bad as I would have guessed. 
 

I am certainly holding him to a different standard because of his build. 

[Edgy MD]

I certainly wouldn't argue that it redeems him, but it feels like it's just piling on to call him "the slowest man alive."

He's slow for a thirdbaseman and below average for a firstbaseman.  This is hard to refute, but it's not really the issue.  The issue is mostly hasn't hit for the last two seasons.

If he doesn't hit, his speed won't redeem him, but if he did hit, his speed wouldn't disqualify him.

More importantly, is there a notion that he might return this season?

[Gwreck]

7 hours ago, Edgy MD said:

I certainly wouldn't argue that it redeems him, but it feels like it's just piling on to call him "the slowest man alive."

He's slow for a thirdbaseman and below average for a firstbaseman.  This is hard to refute, but it's not really the issue.  The issue is mostly hasn't hit for the last two seasons.

 

It was supposed to be funny, which is why it was hyperbolic.  We all know there are slower people.

The point, of course, is when considering him as a potential bench option, the absence of speed (and need to be pinch-run for in critical situations) is a significant negative.  

[Edgy MD]

As a bench player or as a ballplayer of any measure, his bat is the difference-maker.  If he hits, he's an asset.  If he doesn't, he's a liability. 

FUN FACT: Jared Young is one of the fastest firstbasemen in the league.  The Mets still would probably not be carrying him if he wasn't hitting, though.

[ashie62]

7 hours ago, Edgy MD said:

As a bench player or as a ballplayer of any measure, his bat is the difference-maker.  If he hits, he's an asset.  If he doesn't, he's a liability. 

FUN FACT: Jared Young is one of the fastest firstbasemen in the league.  The Mets still would probably not be carrying him if he wasn't hitting, though.

He is hitting?

[Edgy MD]

39 minutes ago, ashie62 said:

He is hitting?

I didn't write that at all.

 

[Centerfield]

As far as speed goes, it’s much harder to find a guy that will give you an .800 OPS against LHP than speed. So if you can find a guy that will do that, and he is cheap and under control that player is an asset. Good glove pinch runners are a dime a dozen. 
 

Baty still has upside. And the first round profile. Which is why we have hope for him. But if you’re looking at results only, you can find guys like Baty everywhere you look. Utility players that can’t hit. 

[Centerfield]

To illustrate this. Brett Baty has a career OPS of .653. His best asset is his versatility. 
 

Luis Guillorme, a clearly superior defender, has a career OPS of .652. 
 

If you’re basing your decision on results only, you’d be foolish to keep Baty over Vientos. 

[ashie62]

21 hours ago, Centerfield said:

To illustrate this. Brett Baty has a career OPS of .653. His best asset is his versatility. 
 

Luis Guillorme, a clearly superior defender, has a career OPS of .652. 
 

If you’re basing your decision on results only, you’d be foolish to keep Baty over Vientos. 

Baty's best asset has always been his matinee looks

We're 8 years in on this guy and he's struggling to maintain a .600 ops. So exactly where does he fit in with the Mets going forward? Color me stumped

[Centerfield]

It’s his upside. That he has the profile of someone who could be a star. 
 

Unfortunately he just hasn’t lived up to it. I wonder how much of that is him and how much of this failure can be attributed to whatever bullshit philosophy has been instituted by this front office that fucked up everyone. 
 

I mean. Right now Bo Bichette looks like a failed prospect.