3 players who deserve an Opening Day roster spot more than Darin Ruf

2) NY Mets prospect Brett Baty is more deserving of a roster spot than Darin Ruf

Brett Baty is the other prospect who should be ahead of Ruf on the depth chart. He can play the same positions as Vientos. His third base skills are better which makes him a more conceivable long-term option at the position.

Between Baty and Vientos, I can see the case to carry Vientos over Baty on the Opening Day roster. Give the left-handed hitting Baty a few more Triple-A at-bats (he didn’t get many last year) and allow him to grow as a defender. Baty is someone the Mets can safely turn to later on this season whether it’s to replace Ruf or give them consistent starts at third base or in left field. He could even be an alternative choice to start at the DH spot if Daniel Vogelbach doesn’t carry his weight.

Baty wasn’t particularly fantastic in his 42 trips to the plate for the Mets last year. He hit .184/.244/.342 with a pair of home runs. Rush to the major leagues out of necessity because the team lost Eduardo Escobar to the IL, he’d be less of a direct Ruf replacement than Vientos and more of a platoon partner. Starting him regularly at third base and in left field could work out well. The cautious Mets would probably not prefer to do this. It doesn’t change the fact that he’s a better fit and more deserving of a roster spot than Ruf.

3) NY Mets utility man Danny Mendick is more deserving of a roster spot than Darin Ruf

A non-prospect who could replace Ruf is Danny Mendick. Appearing to be healthy and ready to start the year playing baseball, Mendick is a utility man who plays mostly on the infield. He’s a far different player than Ruf but fits in more as a bench piece for the team.

Eliminate Ruf from the equation and the right-handed DH for the club becomes Pham or Starling Marte or anyone else you’d like to give a day off defensively. It’s silly to have a bench with such little versatility beyond Luis Guillorme. When Vogelbach starts, the team would carry Pham and Ruf alongside Guillorme and Tomas Nido. This isn’t a particularly quick-footed group either. Mendick isn’t a speedster but can at least provide them with some more athleticism.

Thanks to the continued presence of Jeff McNeil, the Mets don’t really need to carry a fifth outfielder. It’s him. Mendick and Guillorme can share infield duties. Any of the outfield options for the team from Ruf to Vientos to Baty aren’t excellent fielders anyway.

What Mendick won’t offer is a ton of power. Vientos and Baty, on the other hand, can become offensive forces for the Mets in a regular or irregular role.

Mendick is an ideal bench piece. He fits in better than a slugger like Ruf who doesn’t really slug anymore.