NY Mets Monday Morning GM: A decision that needs to be made sooner than we'd like

Ghosts of New York Mets GMs past helped put David Stearns in the position he’ll be in this summer. For better or worse, there’s a looming choice he’ll need to make in terms of the current roster, the future of the ball club, and it could arrive sooner than he’d like.

Other than Mark Vientos’ 2024 season, there hasn’t been a whole lot of success for young Mets hitters on a consistent enough basis. Francisco Alvarez hit with good power in 2023 but has shown signs of regression. Brett Baty gives us glimpses of brilliance then a month’s absence of doing anything at all. Vientos hasn’t been quite himself to begin this year. Luisangel Acuna is struggling to find his way as a starter in the major leagues. We also have Ronny Mauricio who, due to injury, is trying to re-establish his place in the group as one of the more upside prospects capable of doing a little bit of everything.

A lot of young talent and not enough places to play them all on a regular enough basis. Choosing who stays and who goes could come as soon as this summer when the Mets are faced with major trade deadline decisions.

The Mets can’t keep all of their young players, who’s in and who’s out?

Vientos’ final minor league option was used up in 2024 and fortunately he hit well enough where his place within the franchise isn’t quite up for debate. He earned himself a longer leash and, if anything, we see them try him out as more of a first baseman and/or DH next season. His third base defense has been horrifying at times, adding to the Baty storyline.

Baty has been a frustrating player, made more so by how well he has hit at times since getting recalled. He’d be a trade candidate if anyone would budge, but with his final minor league option already used up for 2025, a team will need to have enough faith or patience in him moving forward. He can still be sent to the minors this year, but not again beginning in 2026.

The same rules apply to Mauricio whose final minor league option has already been used up. Where has the time gone? Just one month in the majors back in September of 2023, he remains the most mysterious of the bunch.

Acuna does have a minor league option left and unless the Mets do reassign him to the minors this year, he might have added trade value because of it. Acuna no doubt brings excitement to the field, mostly due to his speed. His defense has been solid at second base. Experienced at shortstop and maybe even a choice for a team in center field if they dare to do so, he is more than a youngster from an MVP bloodline.

Alvarez also deserves a mention, although trading him shouldn’t be on the table. Even if he is regularly getting outplayed by Luis Torrens this year, the idea of giving up on him is shameful when the alternative probably isn’t any better.

Urgency to make a decision grows with the next wave of young players who’ll be big league ready. At their absolute best, Acuna and Jett Williams offer the same thing. Jacob Reimer is making noise in the minor leagues as a third base option. Ryan Clifford and Drew Gilbert may indeed get their opportunity as well, as long as they more consistently prove the trade deadline deals that brought them to New York were about more than dumping cash.