3 changes we should see with the NY Mets after calling up Tommy Pham

Tommy Pham will join the New York Mets ahead of their series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. When you’re asking a minor league free agent signing, albeit one coming off of a pretty good year, to stabilize your outfield and lineup you know things aren’t going so well.

Pham’s presence in the locker room has plenty of intrigue itself with the way he departed. Calling out the team as the “least-hardest working group of position players” stuck with fans. Not in a bad way either. It was appreciated how he told it like it is.

It is assumed Pham will replace Ronny Mauricio on the 26-man roster. Openings already exist on the 40-man roster so no additional move will need to be made. Beyond that housekeeping, there are some additional chain reactions taking place. Assuming it is Mauricio going down (and in some ways, even if it isn’t) then there are a few more events taking place as a result of Pham returning to the Mets locker room.

What happens after Tommy Pham rejoins the Mets

1) We should see less Brett Baty in the outfield

Brett Baty hasn’t looked spectacular in the outfield and if not for a misread play last week, it would have felt a little more average than bad. Because of the circumstances and how costly it became, everyone’s a little fed up with seeing Baty in right field. He has hit lefties well in limited chances, going 2 for 7. However, he’s slumping overall and remains their best defensive option at first base, especially with Mark Vientos needing to sit.

2) We should see less Carson Benge against lefty pitchers

Carson Benge needs to learn how to hit lefty pitchers. Don’t let it be in the majors. He’s 1 for 9 with 6 strikeouts. The Mets have made it necessary to play Benge regularly because letting him sit on the bench and do nothing will delay his development. Pham, the righty half of a platoon situation we could see develop to some degree, should be the left fielder whenever the Mets do go against a lefty. Justin Wrobleski is the southpaw projected starter for the Dodgers on Monday. Don’t waste any time.

3) We should see Mark Vientos go back to facing only lefties

We’re reverting back to a Baty-Vientos platoon. Vientos is 5 for 15 against them and should get the nod on Monday unless the Dodgers’ pitching plans change. Play Baty in right field if needed and give Pham the start in left field. When the Mets play a right-handed pitcher, Vientos shouldn’t sit up off the bench unless he’s high-fiving someone or getting ready for a late pinch hit. Although his 5 for 23 performance against them isn’t unholy, the 0 for 17 he went at home this last week is too ghastly to trust him immediately again.