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2) Utility infielders
Maybe the final battle determined this spring will be who holds the roster spot as a utility infielder. Last year, it was Joey Wendle and Zack Short who took on this role. It’s silly in retrospect. The team didn’t have Mark Vientos, instead choosing to keep a guy like Short around who was neither an established major league player like Jose Iglesias nor a young player with high potential like Brett Baty.
Vientos has jumped ahead of the rest with his role on the Mets. Baty remains in the mix to be a utility infielder of some kind along with what we can only hope are rising young players, Luisangel Acuna and Ronny Mauricio. The Mets added Nick Madrigal to a split contract recently for some added depth.
For several seasons we didn’t have to think about who the backup infielder would be. Luis Guillorme was the guy to handle this role. No longer with the organization, the David Stearns-led Mets didn’t have a proper plan last year and this season seems willing to let a competition play out.
Wendle hit only .222/.243/.250 in his limited time with the Mets. Short, in an even shorter stint, batted .111/.273/.111. Neither played exceptional defense. Short’s purpose never seemed quite clear. He wasn’t a one-tool type of player like Eddy Alvarez who joined the team in September. Versatile on defense, it’s probably better the Mets are more interested in well-rounded players who can offer more.