Mets’ 3B of future? It’s Baty’s for the taking

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — For the Mets, it was simple to dream. First, Carlos Correa agreed to phrases to change into their long-term third baseman, which lasted till medical issues triggered the Mets to again away from that deal. At that time, it appeared solely pure to take a longing look towards Manny Machado, who had the flexibility to change into a free agent subsequent offseason. But the Machado balloon likewise burst on Sunday, when he agreed to an 11-year, $350 million extension with the Padres, in response to a supply.

And but even in spite of everything that, there may be little purpose for the Mets to stress. Given proprietor Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend lavishly on his roster, it may well change into simple to look previous these already within the clubhouse at Clover Park — together with Brett Baty, one in every of baseball’s prime prospects and a well-qualified possibility as their third baseman of the longer term.

With Correa in Minnesota and Machado firmly planted in San Diego, the trail for Baty to entrench himself in New York is much clearer than it was two months in the past. Truth is, which may have been the shrewdest plan all alongside.

“This game, this is such a business and it’s so uncontrollable, so I’m just focused on whatever I can do,” Baty mentioned Sunday morning after listening to the Machado news. “I can’t really focus on the uncontrollables, the stuff that’s maybe a year away. I’m just focused on whatever I can do to help this ballclub win.”

There’s little query that Baty is reaching it within the early days of camp. With a 2-for-2 efficiency within the Mets’ intrasquad sport Friday and a two-run homer of their Grapefruit League opener the next afternoon, Baty has produced the kind of early outcomes that, if extrapolated, may make selections tough for Mets officers on the finish of camp. For now, Eduardo Escobar is New York’s beginning third baseman, however there’s a path for Baty to supplant him if he continues to rake. At the least, Baty may type a platoon with Escobar, beginning on daily basis towards right-handed pitchers whereas Escobar soaks up the remaining.

However that mini drama unfolds, it seems sure that Baty — the Mets’ first-round Draft decide in 2019, their No. 2 prospect and MLB’s 18th-ranked prospect general, per MLB Pipeline — could have a good shake in some unspecified time in the future to entrench himself as New York’s on a regular basis third baseman.

That wasn’t at all times the case. When the Mets agreed to phrases with Correa in December, Cohen thought of the two-time All-Star the lacking piece the membership wanted to contend for a title. It wasn’t till a press convention final week that Cohen publicly backed off that line of considering, acknowledging that “you get excited by possibilities … but he’s not the only player.”

“There’s never one person that makes a club or doesn’t make a club [complete],” Cohen added.

Still, Cohen’s willingness to pay tons of of hundreds of thousands for Correa prompt he would contemplate doing the identical for an much more achieved participant in Machado. Even if Baty performed effectively, Cohen may have splurged on Machado, probably pushing Baty to the outfield and even the commerce block.

The indisputable fact that each Correa and Machado are elsewhere supplies one other cautionary take that Cohen’s cash can’t purchase every thing. That contains Shohei Ohtani, one other soon-to-be free agent who may change into a Met, keep an Angel or go any variety of different locations. In free company, ensures don’t exist.

Outside of the open market, issues are usually extra sure — akin to the truth that Baty is below staff management for six extra seasons, the subsequent three at near the league minimal wage. New York’s most secure and least expensive path to future rivalry has at all times revolved round Baty, who’s coming off a 12 months that noticed him produce a .943 OPS within the higher Minors, pressure his method to the Majors forward of schedule and homer on his first profession swing. He has the flexibility to change into one in every of baseball’s premier energy hitters.

Now, Baty has each the long- and short-term alternative to take action, too.

“Everything takes care of itself if you play well,” he mentioned. “I’m a big believer in that. If you don’t like what you’ve been given, play better.”