NY Mets passing on Phillies minor league signing is good news for Ronny Mauricio

No New York Mets fan is tossing and turning at night over one of the recent Philadelphia Phillies minor league additions. Staring at the possibility of an Opening Day roster with Vidal Brujan present to be a utility player off the bench, the better plan would have been to snag a 2024 Gold Glove winner off the scrap heap.

Dylan Moore, a utility man Gold Glove winner, spent all of his career until late last season with the Seattle Mariners. Every season seems to include a different primary position. Catcher is literally the only position he hasn’t played. The Phillies were interested in him on a minor league contract, a pact signed a few days ago.

The Mets wouldn’t have much use for him if they’re planning to keep Brujan around. However, with Moore on a minor league contract with about $3 million at the most he can earn if he makes the team, it appears the Mets might have taken the lesser player off of waivers rather than pay money into a more proven major leaguer. It’s good news for Ronny Mauricio who seems to have a clearer path toward some playing time in the majors.

Picking the more temporary Vidal Brujan over Dylan Moore suggests there is room for Ronny Mauricio

The timeline for Mauricio’s 2026 Mets role would probably have him spending some time in Triple-A to start the year and work his way back. He is a possibility for the Opening Day roster, but playing time will be hard to find. There aren’t any frequent starts available.

There’s a lot more Mauricio can achieve in the minors. Figuring out how to hit left-handed pitchers from the right side is one of them. Learning some first base is another.

Mauricio shouldn’t be discounted as a third base option for the Mets in the near future. The team has put a pause on the youngsters battling it out once again. This year is all about Bo Bichette at the hot corner. Mauricio has only recently shifted practically full-time away from shortstop to learn third base. A player like Francisco Lindor will do that for your organization.

The Mets are leaving an opening for Ronny Mauricio, for now

The Mets continue to be intrigued by Mauricio and his upside, in particular on the power side. He has proven himself at the Triple-A level. Unconvinced he’s fully MLB-ready, letting him rot on the major league bench to start this season seems wasteful. The team purposefully kept his minor league option intact for this kind of situation. Let him

A strong season in Triple-A for Syracuse in 2023 and an even better stint in 2025 has shown he’s better than that level. He still has yet to break free from a Four-A level. A Mr. Inbetween at the moment, heating up in the minors with his bat and timing a promotion to the Mets is far more sensible than doing very little with him on the major league roster. There aren’t too many players he’d ever pinch hit for. He’d maybe play a little defense, run some, and get a rare start.

There’s nothing to indicate the Mets ever were interested in Moore, but we can understand why they would be. David Stearns likes versatility but also isn’t avoidant of non-defensive players. He signed J.D. Martinez prior to 2024. The club went into last year with Starling Marte and Jesse Winker on the roster when neither really can play much outfield any longer.

Moore over Brujan is far better and yet it kind of goes against any planning with Mauricio. Brujan is out of options and likely to be this year’s Zack Short who makes the club out of camp but is DFA’d as soon as someone else becomes more useful.