The New York Mets are staring at a lost season.
After a 5-4 loss to the rival Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, the Mets are 35-49 and 9.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. Carlos Mendoza has already been fired as manager, and frustrated fans are calling for David Stearns' firing as well. What once looked like a World Series contender now faces significant questions about its future.
The bright spots of the Mets' season have generally consisted of encouraging performances from their younger players. Carson Benge is steadily improving as the season progresses, A.J. Ewing is an exciting spark plug and Nolan McLean is still holding his own. But with remnants of a previous young core still present and the team clearly out of contention, it may be time for the Mets to replace those formerly promising players and continue a youth movement.
This includes Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, two players who enjoyed breakout seasons but failed to sustain their success.
Why the Mets Need to Give Up on Brett Baty and Mark Vientos
Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
It may seem harsh to cut ties with Baty and Vientos, as both are only 26 years old and pre-arbitration eligible. But the years of control the Mets have no longer matter at this point, as both of them are actively detrimental to the Mets' on-field performance.
Baty struggled immensely to begin his career before blossoming in 2025, totaling 2.3 fWAR by hitting .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs, all while playing great defense at third base. With Bo Bichette signed during the offseason to play third, the Mets now expected Baty to become a superutility player and earn at-bats with his versatility. But unfortunately, he's proven unable to handle this role while his bat cratered back to pre-2025 production.
In 80 games and 277 plate appearances this year, Baty is slashing a woeful .210/.297/.292 with just three home runs and a 72 wRC+. He's struck out 77 times while drawing only 28 walks. Baty's defense has also taken a step back, with a combined -5 Outs Above Average at all four infield positions and right field. Overall, he's posted -0.3 fWAR, the worst total value he's put up since 2023.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Vientos has been even worse. He burst onto the scene in 2024 by bashing 27 home runs and hitting .266/.322/.516 with a 132 wRC+ in 111 games. Vientos later enjoyed a spectacular postseason, setting a Mets playoff record with 14 RBI in 13 games. But after a disappointing 2025 that gradually saw reduced playing time, 2026 has been a disaster.
This season, Vientos has hit 10 home runs but owns a horrid .212/.253/.385 slash line and 78 wRC+ in 69 games and 241 plate appearances. He's drawn just 11 walks while striking out 57 times. Never a strong fielder, Vientos was moved from third base to first base this year, which has resulted in -8 Outs Above Average and -7 fielding runs. All of this gives Vientos a -1.0 fWAR, making him just one of six players in MLB this year to be a full win below replacement level.
While Baty and Vientos' youth may have worked in their favor in the past, they've both produced large enough sample sizes that indicate their breakout seasons were flukes. They also have no more minor league options, so it's been past time for them to prove they belong in the majors for good. If this season is any indication, they don't.
The reason why the Mets haven't moved on from Baty and Vientos is because their successors aren't MLB-ready yet. Ryan Clifford has suddenly cratered with Triple-A Syracuse this month, hitting just .108 with a .367 OPS over his last 84 plate appearances. Jacob Reimer is still with Double-A Binghamton, where he is hitting .212 with a .723 OPS in 50 games this year.
Nonetheless, Baty and Vientos' poor play are a factor in the Mets' nightmare season. And if the Mets plan to roll with a full-blown youth movement the rest of the year, then the two former "Baby Mets" may be playing on borrowed time.
