Mets Shortstop Trade Chips: Amed Rosario vs. Andres Gimenez

Conclusion

The Mets management staff and front office are in the unenviable position of having to choose between two intriguing options. While last season would seem to indicate that Gimenez has the highest upside moving forward, there is one other critical piece of information to consider: The entire sample size was based on one of the strangest seasons in baseball history.

Gimenez, while impressive, has yet to prove that he is capable of enduring through an entire 162 game schedule. Rosario’s perceived dip in production could also be attributed to an interrupted spring/summer training time, unique practice and clubhouse conditions, or the looming pandemic. The Astros’ infamous sign-stealing scandal also ended the use of in-game tape in 2020. This led to subpar seasons from superstars like JD Martinez and Christian Yelich. Perhaps Rosario also felt the effect.

At the end of the day, the Mets would be most wise to retain both players entering the season, with Gimenez as the starter and Rosario as a key infield utility man. However, if the younger option does provide staying power over the first half of the season, I would then pivot to shopping Rosario in a deadline deal for a position of need.

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If Gimenez passes the skills level and availability tests over the first few months of the season, it seems clear that Rosario is the more expendable of the two options.