What a hot finish for Brett Baty can mean for his NY Mets future

Brett Baty had his hitting streak snapped at 10 games over the weekend. He finished the first-half hitting .221/.297/.314 with 4 home runs. Worth 0 bWAR with his best attribute being able to play multiple positions, the verdict on Baty has never seemed more confusing. On one hand, he’s showing his value to the New York Mets as a useful enough utility man with potential we’ve been hearing about since he was drafted in 2019. On the other hand, numbers don’t lie.

The Mets are buying into Baty’s capabilities or at least trying to make sure his trade value doesn’t completely diminish. He went into the break riding a wave before two hitless games to close it out. What could a hot finish to the season mean for his Mets future?

A strong finish for Brett Baty in 2026 will absolutely convince the Mets to keep him around

Baty came into the year as a planned option at first base, right field, and backup at third base and second base. He has ended up playing a lot more third base than intended due to the Francisco Lindor absence. Capable at times at his new positions and appearing lost in other moments, Baty has shockingly replicated the kinds of results Jeff McNeil is giving the Athletics this year and at a far lower cost. McNeil is hitting .226/.290/.302 and worth -0.5 bWAR. It must be Baty’s defense, especially at third base, having him measure out better than the man whose shoes he has filled.

Cheap, youngish, and owning a minor league option still, it’s hard to see why the Mets would try to sell him on a high. They’re more likely to try to move Mark Vientos this offseason due to his inability to actually defend a position. It doesn’t help that his offensive output has been as shameful as it has been.

Baty, meanwhile, is a darling for the front office allegedly and they’ve continually proven those reports true. Considering how poorly Marcus Semien has played and how battered he has been in recent years, Baty is an automatic to back him up at second base. Third base is a huge question mark with Bo Bichette’s opt-out. The Mets would be foolish to think of him as an actual third base starter, but if he ends the year strong enough, it might be exactly what they do.

It’s the streakiness of Baty that has made him frustrating again this year. He couldn’t draw a walk early on but now has 30. From month-to-month, the Mets haven’t had any clue as to what he’d offer. He has an OPS of .566, .750, .435, and 740 this season. A bad start and an even worse June had everyone thinking the end was near.

Baty is a long way from what he was supposed to be as the 12th overall pick in 2019. Keeping him wouldn’t be a mistake again only if the Mets do so on a tight leash. A strong finish means he remains in the mix as options at a few places, mostly as a Plan-B capable of shifting.

Then comes the other question. What if Baty plays poorly to finish the season? As bad as it is to sell low, it might be time to try to trick the Miami Marlins into thinking there’s untapped results.

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