Mets: Five ways Andres Gimenez can fit into the team’s future plans

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 16: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Andres Gimenez #60 of the New York Mets in action during an intra squad game at Citi Field on July 16, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

How will Andres Gimenez fit in with the New York Mets next season and beyond?

Andres Gimenez is now a name every New York Mets fan knows. The rookie infielder is getting a lot of playing time in 2020, but there is a minor hiccup in the near future. Where does he play?

It’s a good problem to have—in a way. If Gimenez really is big league ready and capable of playing every day, the Mets will have a tough time finding him at-bats next year. Injuries will always occur and because of his defensive skills, there’s room for him to get playing time that way.

However, it’s not ideal. You should never root for a starter to get hurt just so someone else can step in and take over.

There’s little doubt Gimenez has some sort of future in the big leagues. Exactly how can the Mets use him?

Utility Role

The easiest way to get Gimenez regular playing time is to keep in the current role as a utility infielder. Move him around the diamond. Let him start at second base, shortstop, and third base once a week. Three starts at three different positions should be more than enough to get him in the lineup and let other rest.

So far in his big league career, Gimenez has been used more as a defensive replacement than anything else. Before Robinson Cano landed on the IL, he was the veteran second baseman’s late-inning substitute. Injuries to Cano and other infielders have led to a few more starts for Gimenez.

In 2021, this seems like the most likely role for Gimenez. He’ll get his at-bats while continuing to grow as a major league player.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 25: Andres Gimenez #60 of the New York Mets defends at second base against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on July 25, 2020 in New York City. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Braves defeated the Mets 5-3 in ten innings. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Starting Second Baseman

How can the Mets pull this one off? We all know Cano isn’t going anywhere unless retirement comes calling early for him. There is one way Gimenez can become the starting second baseman for this club rather easily.

We still don’t know for sure what the rules for the 2021 season will look like. If the DH does stick around, we could see Cano slide into that role. It feels too right, especially if he’s able to hit well.

Not only does this upgrade the infield defense, but it also allows Cano the chance to stay a little healthier by eliminating those innings in the field. I think a problem Cano had in 2019 was how much he played. He’s getting older and keeping him well-rested is essential to his success.

Gimenez could simply slide into the starting second base gig and allow Cano to become what many stars do later in their career: a designated hitter.

This move requires the least amount of maneuvering with the roster. It doesn’t exactly solve a few other minor dilemmas for the team such as where Dominic Smith fits into their plans.

Gimenez doesn’t have to become a 162-game starter for the Mets next year. He can, however, become the primary choice to start at second base as they slowly ease Cano into an offense-only player.

In the short time we’ve seen Gimenez in the big leagues we have gotten the opportunity to see what a talented fielder he is. I don’t want to waste that on only one or two innings a night. If his bat is even slightly competent, it’s worth giving a try.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 15: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Andres Gimenez #60 of the New York Mets in action during an intra squad game at Citi Field on July 15, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Starting Shortstop

This seems like the path Gimenez was meant to go on yet the one with the most number of bumps along the way. That’s because Amed Rosario is the team’s current starting shortstop. He’s also a young player still trying to develop his game further.

We can debate how good Rosario is until we’re blue and orange in the face. While many will agree his defense is lacking, his bat has had its moments. Rosario is in an important stage of his career where we should hopefully know a little more about him by the end of this season barring some kind of stoppage of major injury.

Gimenez won’t start at shortstop unless Rosario is out. This could mean Rosario has been traded or he has moved to a different position. Both are possible.

Moving Rosario to a different position isn’t so farfetched. We have already heard past rumors about him shagging fly balls in an effort to possibly turn him into the club’s future center fielder. I also wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up sliding over to second base.

You know that plan I mentioned earlier about moving Cano to DH and putting Gimenez in his place at second base? The better defensive infield might have Rosario slide over one spot and have Gimenez take over as the shortstop.

At some point, the Mets may have one more big decision to make in relation to this one about Rosario and Gimenez. Their top prospect, Ronny Mauricio, is also a natural shortstop. Although he’s probably a little further away from making the big leagues, he could end up in Flushing sooner than later.

WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 05: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals is tagged out at third base in the fourth inning by Andres Gimenez #60 of the New York Mets at Nationals Park on August 5, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

Starting Third Baseman

I only like the idea of putting Gimenez as the starting third baseman for one reason: his glove. Defense is not something the Mets have valued much. Having a vacuum cleaner at the hot corner could help them out immensely.

Jeff McNeil is the current starting third baseman. Unfortunately, he hasn’t looked like a Gold Glove candidate there.

McNeil’s natural position is second base and I believe it’s there or one of the corner outfield positions he is best suited for. If he ends up in a corner outfield spot, there’s a whole lot of movement the Mets may have to make in order to get this to work. Putting him at second base is a little easier. He goes there, Cano goes to the DH spot, and Gimenez becomes the club’s third baseman.

This doesn’t fit into the idea that a team’s third baseman needs to be one of their best hitters. I wouldn’t worry so much about that. McNeil’s bat at second base is better than what many teams have and more than makes up for any lack of power Gimenez may give the team at third base.

Oh, and one more thing about putting Gimenez at third base. What about all of the other options out there?

Third base is an incredibly deep position around the league. Nolan Arenado, Kris Bryant, and others have all hit the trade block at some point. Over the past two seasons, we’ve even seen Manny Machado and Anthony Rendon become free agents.

Gimenez is a good defender but compared to those guys, he’s a backup. Third base could end up as Gimenez’s position for a short period of time. A chance to acquire any of those names mentioned or equivalent players would immediately put him back on the bench.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Andres Gimenez #60 of the New York Mets in action during an intra squad game at Citi Field on July 14, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Trade Him

Finally, there’s the fifth option. I won’t go into the negative ones where he fades into obscurity and anything good he does in 2020 is a fluke. My last option is still leaning further away from the positive because it involves trading Gimenez.

Coming into the 2020 season, I was okay with trading Gimenez. I still would be for the right price. As you can see, it’s not the easiest to get him regular playing time.

We also don’t fully know what he will become. I don’t want to trade him. I don’t think the Mets should either. But in order to get something of value you back, it’s what a team must do.

Gimenez is exactly the type of player the Mets would trade and probably should in order to get better now. The more playing time he gets in Major League Baseball this season, the more coveted he could become—depending on the results.

Although Gimenez isn’t the level of prospect that could headline a deal for a major star, he’s a solid piece the Mets can put in a deal to acquire veteran talent. The club has already traded away so many of their best prospects or watched others graduate. They would be held hostage in any trade negotiations.

This final option is a little rushed and doesn’t seem to have any urgency at all to it. The best course of action for the team would be to keep him in a reserve role rather than move on from him too quickly. We know Brodie Van Wagenen has a passion for trading prospects. Fortunately, Gimenez has graduated from minor leaguer to major leaguer this year.

The odds of seeing him dealt just got slimmer.

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