Potential last flash from Ronny Mauricio confirms only one detail about his NY Mets fate

In game 161 of the 2024 season, Francisco Lindor hit a home run in Atlanta which helped seal a playoff berth for the New York Mets. Ronny Mauricio doubled the home run total in 161 of the 2026 season but in a mostly meaningless game for the team outside draft lottery seeding.

It was only Mauricio’s second game of September and of the second-half in general. Popping off a pair of dingers against the Washington Nationals to help the Mets win their 74th game of the season won’t do nearly enough to save him from wearing a different team’s uniform in 2027.

A top 100 prospect several times in the past and a guy who lingered as a top one in the Mets system for even longer, Mauricio has only 106 MLB games under his belt and all of his minor league options used up as of next year. He’s in a Luisangel Acuna situation where the Mets either need to carry him on the active roster, something they didn’t do in July or August when the season was already over. Andy Green spoke about Mauricio on Friday and what he needed to do in order to impress them. It’s probably not the Mets who need to be impressed.

The Mets shouldn’t be too quick to non-tender Ronny Mauricio

That’s not to suggest Mauricio has any spot with the Mets next year. Tendering a contract confirms nothing about a player’s fate. Although arbitration eligible next year, losing Mauricio for nothing is the most unfortunate way for his Mets tenure to end even if it’s reasonable enough to pull the plug.

It wasn’t an unworldly year in Triple-A for Mauricio. He batted .261/.302/.493 with 18 home runs in 305 plate appearances. He has hardly done a thing in the majors, appearing in just 19 games all year in 2026. If not for an injury shortly after taking over at shortstop for Francisco Lindor, we would have had a larger sample of what he can actually do.

Swapping Mauricio for a player not so different from Luis Robert Jr. is probably the Mets’ best-case scenario. An overpaid, oft-injured player who “just needs to stay healthy and maybe…” is the type of acquisition that would work best. However, when we factor in the already high Mets payroll with burdens like Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, and Sean Manaea already on the roster, it’s a little unfathomable for the Mets to add that exact type of player.

The CBA expiring on December 1 should have the Mets approaching the Mauricio situation like this: tender him a contract if they can’t find a trade before the lockout begins. Post-lockout, attempt to trade him. If not, let him battle for a bench spot. There’s no telling who the Mets could lose in the preseason. Mauricio, with the ability to play multiple infield positions can at least buy some major league at-bats. 

Destined to maybe become a late preseason roster cut regardless, the looming lockout should have the Mets sticking with him. His trade value is at “get anything you can” with any team willing to take him on in the same boat as the Mets.

The free agent shortstop market is thin in free agency with JP Crawford regarded as maybe the best. Bo Bichette, if he opts out, is debatable because he has shown this year with the Mets he’s probably better as a third baseman.

Mauricio’s best defense in the majors came as a third baseman in 2025. That market isn’t any better.

Someone’s going to get Mauricio for a low price. The Mets just need to do their best to make sure he gets sold before the yard sale sign comes down. There’s nothing sadder than the day after your neighbor has a yard sale seeing items at the curb for the trash truck.

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