Mets News: Mutual Sean Manaea interest, Pete Alonso future, Brett Baty role

David Stearns spoke to the media on Wednesday. He did so in a language we’re all familiar with. It wasn’t Dothraki. He didn’t speak Klingon. Not a phrase of Na’vi slipped from his tongue either. Appy Polly Loggies to anyone hoping Stearns knew Nadsat. The New York Mets President of Baseball Operations gave us a whole lot of lingo only a MLB executive could deliver.

What else would we expect? Nevertheless, there were a couple of highlights.

The Mets and Sean Manaea have mutual interest in a reunion

This is probably the most revealing because by saying there is mutual interest between the Mets and Sean Manaea, Stearns answered on behalf of someone else. He wouldn’t be doing that unless it was true, right?

The only worry here is he didn’t actually say the words himself about the interest being mutual. It came from the question. He stuttered a bit and didn’t pull a C3PO and repeat a part of the question to make it clear what was being said. Mutual interest is also far from any sort of a guarantee. Manaea did seem to truly enjoy his stay with the Mets. On a scale of 1-10, this is probably only around a 2 when it comes to being a surprise.

The Mets haven’t changed their stance on Pete Alonso

Stearns did a good job answering this question. He didn’t really answer it. Went business. Gave a candidate response in regards to the reality of the situation: the Mets and Pete Alonso are no guarantee.

The typical “I’d love to be back here” and sister response of “We’d love to have him back” is pretty meaningless. It’s only a story when someone says they don’t want to be back.

Neither side seems to have given any ground when it comes to a contract. For sure, the most copacetic result is for Alonso to return. It’ll have to come at a price the Mets are willing to pay. 

Brett Baty’s role remains undefined

Keeping with the theme of peachiness, Stearns was asked about Brett Baty. The long-lost future third baseman of the Mets didn’t finish off the year so strongly in Triple-A. Stearns’ main emphasis in responding to the question was on versatility which is fair enough given how third base currently belongs to Mark Vientos.

How high the Mets are on Baty is up for debate. Stearns isn’t the kind of guy who’d bash a potential trade chip days after the team was eliminated. Actions will speak much louder than any words Stearns says about Baty. The 2025 season will be his last chance to prove he belongs in the major leagues. That’s not up for debate. He loses all minor league options after the coming season. This offseason is probably the time to trade him.