NY Mets depth chart: 2 players moving up, 2 moving down

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Something the New York Mets have done well as an organization this year is reward players for the performances. Play well, you get on the field. Don’t put up the numbers needed, you get branded with three letters, DFA.

Better play from some players and not so stellar performances from others have created more movement on the proverbial Mets depth chart. Heading into the first Sunday of July, we can declare these two up and these two down.

Jose Butto is moving up the Mets depth chart

Since getting recalled for a bullpen role, Jose Butto is 2-0 in 2 games with only 1 hit allowed. He hasn’t been dominant. A pair of walks and a strikeout are the results of his 3.2 innings of work. Nevertheless, he deserves to move up the Mets depth chart because of how important he has suddenly become to the team in an entirely different role.

The bullpen has suffered more than a flesh wound. Even with Edwin Diaz back from suspension and hopefully continuing to play well, the amount of trust we can have in this relief corps is limited. Worst of all is the guys who aren’t pitching particularly well are not optional. While the Mets can easily send Ty Adcock or Matt Festa away, it isn’t the case for everyone else.

Butto should give the Mets a combination of length and high-leverage innings. The Mets appropriately allowed Adrian Houser to pitch the eighth in their Fourth of July game only to see him surrender the lone run of the game on a swing by Jesse Winker. It was one of the few blips Houser has had in the bullpen. Fortunately, the Mets can revert back to keeping him in smaller spots with Butto around; as long as he’s available.

Jake Diekman is moving down the Mets depth chart

That ache in your chest isn’t from all of the hot dogs you ate. It’s from seeing Jake Diekman. Over his last 6 appearances, Diekman has logged only 3.1 innings. A 13.50 ERA, 2.70 WHIP, and .313 batting average against help highlight the insanity. He has walked one more batter than he has struck out. Although not alone in the maddening chaos in the bullpen, the frustration of seeing the lone lefty reliever on the roster play so terribly has become exhaustive.

Diekman is one of those veterans in the bullpen the team can’t just send to Syracuse. Along with Adam Ottavino who has pitched better of late, it’s up to the Mets to get them “right” rather than send them packing. We’re at the point of “who can the Mets replace them with?” when it comes to bullpen pieces. Although there are options, are they really any better?

There are certain stretches where an athlete can lose all faith from a fanbase. Diekman is in one of those ruts right now.

It extends back further than the last two weeks. Over the last 30 days, Diekman has appeared in a team-high 12 games with only 7 innings. A total of 8 walks and 4 strikeouts has been overcome by quick hooks from manager Carlos Mendoza. If only Mendy had someone else available.

Jose Quintana is moving up the Mets depth chart

Where are we with Jose Quintana? It was debatable who would get this spot. Sean Manaea has pitched well of late and seems to have a greater ceiling than Manaea. However, if we want to look at the last 5 starts, the Mets haven’t had a better starting pitcher on the roster than Quintana.

Over those last 5 starts, Quintana is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA. Luis Severino has logged more innings over that same stretch but it’s Quintana right behind him at 27 innings. In fact, the four Mets starters who have taken the mound most are all about even when it comes to innings. The average is only a tad over 5 innings per start. In 2024, you take it with a smile.

A lot of Quintana’s recent success comes from cutting down on the home runs. He has given up just 2 in his last 27 innings. His work with Francisco Alvarez cannot be understated. He is a completely different pitcher when Alvy is behind the dish.

Quintana, Severino, and Manaea seem to ping pong around the depth chart. Only maybe because Quintana reminds some of us a little too much of Carlos Carrasco does he get overlooked at times. Some lucky breaks with umpires whose strike zones you could parallel park in with your eyes closed aside, Quintana has been a clever pitcher more than an overpowering one. Whatever works!

DJ Stewart is moving down the Mets depth chart

Exactly why is DJ Stewart still on the roster? He barely plays. With Ben Gamel around too, there is some redundancy that cannot be ignored.

Stewart is 4 for his last 30 with 6 walks and 11 strikeouts. The absence of Starling Marte has done nothing to increase his playing time. The Mets prefer to have Tyrone Taylor or Jeff McNeil in right field. What’s his purpose now? His opportunities to pinch hit have all but disappeared with many of the team’s righties performing well.

This could’ve been predicted heading into 2024. Stewart is a very hot and cold player. He was tremendous in August of 2023 and not so much in September. This year started off badly, Stewart heated up at least in terms of reaching base, and now with diminished chances he has gone frozen again.

The Mets are behaving as if they cannot send him to the minor leagues. Are they simply trying to keep the option available for them next year or possibly having it included when the trade deadline comes can increase his value .0001%?

Stewart isn’t a bad player to have on your roster. The problem is when he isn’t hitting for power or drawing walks. A below-average player overall, he’s a guy who probably needs to play regularly to perform. His limitations and better options on the roster have him sitting and watching more than actually playing.

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