3) Drew Gilbert
An unlikely but potential option to replace Baty is Mets prospect Drew Gilbert. He was the centerpiece of the Justin Verlander trade during the 2023 trade deadline and has impressed through his time in the minors. When he entered the Mets system, he was a staple in their top ten prospect rankings. He even reached as high as the second overall prospect during 2024. While injuries have set him back, there is still a lot of hype surrounding him.
After starting the season in extended spring training, Gilbert has made an impact at the Triple-A level. Through 14 games, he's slashed .273/.414/.409 with one home run and six RBIs. This is a major improvement from the end of last season. In 56 games with Syracuse in 2024, he slashed .215/.313/.393 with ten home runs and 32 RBIs.
However, despite Gilbert's improvement at Triple-A, he's unlikely to be the guy the Mets call on if Baty continues to struggle. With how much promise Gilbert has, it's likely they do not want to rush him. Even with his good numbers, it's still a small sample size, and with his injury history, he's a full year behind in development. The Mets would rather have him be an everyday starter in the minors than a role player in the majors.
