3 Mets playing their way into next year's roster plans

The New York Mets look much different today than they did on Opening Day. Plans change quickly. Soldiers fall. Heroes rise. Results surprise.

The Mets should already have their eyes on the future while trying to salvage the present. Enjoying the performances from these three Mets is a given in 2024. And the better they play, the more likely they are to stick around for the 2025 season, too.

1) Mark Vientos

Is Mark Vientos the third base solution for the Mets? Maybe not. But he sure looks like a major league hitter. Whether it’s third base, first base, the DH spot, or a combination of all of them, Vientos has already made his case to be a member of the team next year. It’s all just a matter of finding where he fits best.

Vientos has cooled off a bit but his numbers until recently were a bit unreasonable. He still carries with him a .287/.357/.517 slash line. His .874 OPS is better than any of the other regulars.

Already sixth on the roster with 5 home runs and tied for 7th on the team with 16 RBI—a total matching what Brett Baty had in significantly more playing time—Vientos has been a regular run producer for the club who doesn’t have the luxury of a large enough sample size.

There is no reason to give up on Vientos right now. The defense has been acceptable at third base. Although the Mets will lose their ability to option him to the minors next season, that’s a worthwhile risk with the way he has hammered big league pitchers.