Mets players on the hot seat heading into the 2021 season

1) Third Baseman J.D. Davis

Let’s be honest, there has been no player that has come into Spring Training under more scrutiny by fans and the front office alike than third baseman J.D. Davis. While I am a huge fan of what J.D. Davis brings to the table offensively, it’s been Davis’ defense that has played a role in his name constantly being discussed in trades this offseason.

It’s important to note that Davis has not been discussed as a throwaway in any trade rumor, as his name seemed to come up in trades for some of the top tier third basemen in the league such as Kris Bryant and Nolan Arenado. However, due to the offensive struggles, Davis faced in 2020 combined with his defensive shortcomings, the Mets explored the market for a potential upgrade.

That doesn’t go without saying that the front office still may look to upgrade at the third base position at some point during the 2021 season if Davis has any semblance of his 2020 season and not the outstanding year he had in 2019. You could argue despite the shortened season’s struggles that the 27-year old Davis still has his best baseball ahead of him, but it seems out of all players currently on the active roster Davis may be the one under more of a microscope this season.

Davis is not eligible for free agency until 2025, which gives the Mets another building block for the future, dependent on his offensive bounce back in 2021 and his potential improvements defensively. It’s encouraging to see Davis working with Francisco Lindor in camp this spring to make those defensive adjustments, as Davis needs to get off to a good start both at the plate and in the field to silence the lingering trade chatter that has surrounded him since November.