NY Mets: 3 players we can “thank” Brodie Van Wagenen for in 2021

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DENVER, CO – JULY 11: New York Mets prospect Brett Baty #25 of National League Futures Team warms up before a game against the American League Futures Team at Coors Field on July 11, 2021 in Denver, Colorado.(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Brodie Van Wagenen is an inkblot on the history of the New York Mets. The club’s general manager in an up-and-down 2019 season and again in a much more disappointing 2020 campaign, the number of fans who defend him is quite low.

Van Wagenen, if nothing else, was consistent. His aim was to improve the Mets immediately while completely ignoring their future. It’s almost as if he knew he wouldn’t stick around for long.

Although best remembered for the moves that didn’t work out in his team’s favor, there are three players we can thank him for in 2021.

Mets prospect Brett Baty is providing a lot of hope for the future

Easily the most talked-about Mets prospect drafted by BVW, third baseman Brett Baty is rising up quickly through the farm system. He had a breakout year in 2021 which isn’t too big of a surprise considering last year was a wash and the 2019 season for him didn’t begin until after he was drafted.

Still, the Mets seem to be banking on Baty becoming a big force in their lineup sooner than later.

I try to never get too excited about prospects. Far too many have fizzled out. One doesn’t need to look much further than their attic and the boxes of baseball cards with the words “Future Stars” on some of the cardboard. Too often, those future stars become regular people. One actually ended up as a substitute at my high school.

Along with Baty, pitching prospect Matt Allan is someone the organization is very high on. However, because he missed all of 2021, I’m only going to tip my cap to Brodie for the addition of Baty to the organization.

Sep 7, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Miguel Castro (50) delivers pitch during the ninth inning of the game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /

Miguel Castro turned out to be an effective reliever for the Mets

When the Mets picked up Miguel Castro at the 2020 trade deadline there wasn’t much thought about him becoming an impact player. He was one of several moves the team made that had people scratching their heads. Because it cost them pitching prospect Kevin Smith in the process, there was a lot of thought that maybe this would turn into a bust of a move.

The Mets ended up tendering Castro a contract after 2020. His performance was mediocre in that short stretch. Someone saw a more promising future ahead.

In 2021, the Mets have used Castro a ton. His role has been primarily to bridge the gap between the starters and the setup men. To my amazement, he has actually done it incredibly well.

Castro isn’t going to suddenly develop into an elite reliever. His role with the Mets this year is actually exactly where he should be. He can eat innings, get big outs, and do it without self-destructing on the mound. He has actually turned out to be one of the most pleasant of surprises this year. Without him, I’m not sure we would have ever looked at the Mets bullpen as complete—a thought I think many of us had earlier on in the year.

Castro should return to the Mets again next year in the same exact spot. At only 26-years-old, Castro could stick around even longer.

Sep 18, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Javier Baez (23) looks on from the dugout before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

You don’t want to thank BVW for Javier Baez but he might not be here without him

What’s BVW got to do with Javier Baez? You already know where I’m going with this. I can feel it.

Let’s go back to what brought Baez to the Mets. The July 30 trade that also landed them Trevor Williams cost the Mets Pete Crow-Armstrong. PCA was the second first-round draft pick by BVW and I don’t think it’s because we can abbreviate both names with three letters.

In typical Steve Cohen era fashion, another one of Van Wagenen’s additions was erased. It’s quite amazing how quickly the club moved on from so many players he brought in. Can we blame them, though? Many deserved to go.

Crow-Armstrong is a little different. An injury this year prevented him from putting together his first professional season. He remains a huge mystery. We’ll have to watch how he performs in the Chicago Cubs system.

Baez, on the other hand, has continued to bash baseballs in Flushing. All it took was trading a single draft pick by Van Wagenen to get him. In the Brodie Van Wagenen version of “It’s A Wonderful Life” there definitely needs to be a scene where Mets fans are never given the thumbs down from Baez because Baez never comes to New York.

Next. The only Mets free agents returning next year

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Van Wagenen may not have left the lasting impact on the franchise he had hoped for. However, either directly or indirectly, he did leave a mark on the 2021 season—not all negative either.

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