3 NY Mets trade scenarios involving Mark Vientos that make too much sense

There’s no room for Mark Vientos on the New York Mets roster any longer. The Jorge Polanco signing removed his chance to be their 1B/DH for the coming year. In the name of run prevention, it’s time to trade him away and see if the return can help them in bigger areas of need. Pitching and the outfield seem to be the places that make the most sense.

Vientos on the trade block this offseason comes as no surprise with the emergence of Brett Baty as a good hitter and far better defender at third base. His lack of minor league options has the alarm bell sounding. It’s now or never.

Looking around the league at potential trade partners, there are three places and scenarios that seem to make the most sense.

1) Trade Mark Vientos and a more controllable prospect for Luis Robert Jr.

The will they, won’t they with the Mets and Chicago White Sox doesn’t seem like it’ll eventually end with both sides being completely satisfied. The White Sox are holding onto Luis Robert Jr. because they want the other teams seeking his services to eat more of his $20 million contract for the coming year than they feel comfortable with. The Mets, with their obvious need to improve center field and desire to stay short-term with everything feels like such a good match.

Send them Vientos and a more controllable prospect, eat some money, and give yourself a high upside center fielder. The worst thing Robert will do is give you excellent defense and speed. His bat may never get back to what was expected, but the power upside and chance to vastly improve the outfield situation for the 2026 season (and maybe longer) is too irresistible to ever let this trade idea get between them.

The White Sox had one of the worst first base and DH situations last season in the league. Holding onto Robert as they spin the wheels on a rebuild is a foolish mistake that could absolutely come to bite them if he was to get hurt early on in 2026.