3 Mets players who will be better in 2024, 2 who will be worse

Consistent at-bats will give Mark Vientos some powerful numbers

At the very least, Mark Vientos should be able to hit a lot of home runs for the Mets. Any other result than to power the team to a lead every once in a while will have them moving on from him entirely by the time we get to 2025. A clear graduate of Triple-A after slashing .306/.387/.612 with 16 home runs in only 269 plate appearances last year, all Vientos needs are consistent at-bats to show how good he is.

Vientos may not reveal himself to be a good enough hitter for the Mets to keep around. In fact, if the team is able to pick up Juan Soto in free agency next offseason, there doesn’t seem to be as much of a need for Vientos. Between Soto, Brandon Nimmo, and an onslaught of Mets prospects who’ll play the outfield, they may need the DH spot to remain a little more revolving.

Fortunately for the Mets, Vientos should be able to win back some trade value if all they do is give him those opportunities. Held back early on last year upon his first promotion, it wasn’t until the end of the year when he was a regular. August was abysmal but September showed some promise. Vientos slashed .230/.280/.460 in the final month with 6 of his 9 home runs. Still a strikeout machine, it’s a quality any team will have to accept with him around.

Vientos shouldn’t have the longest of leashes if the Mets are trying to compete. By the end of May, if they give him a fair chance, we should know what he is. Probably not good enough to be the everyday DH, he’ll undoubtedly improve upon what he has done in the past.