Mets Scapegoats: 1 player to release, 1 to trade for pennies, 1 to keep around

A few weeks ago Zach Rotman took a look at some of the New York Mets scapegoats and decided who should get fired, who should have the heat turned up on his seat, and who deserved more patience. As much as we’d all like to make a change in the front office or with the coaching staff, responsibility falls on the players.

There are plenty of scapegoats on the actual roster. Their season hasn’t gone so well and several are candidates to be released, traded, or stick around to ride this one out.

Exclusively using those players having a bad year and those within the realm of possibly ending the year on a different team, here’s one player the team should release, one they should trade for anything at all, and one worth keeping around.

NY Mets scapegoat to release: Daniel Vogelbach

How much trade value does Daniel Vogelbach even have at this point? He hasn’t meshed well with the Mets. His only chance at consistent big league at-bats would’ve been if he was, at the very least, smashing right-handed pitchers sometimes or even drawing a whole lot of walks.

Neither is true for Vogelbach. He doesn’t hit home runs. He hasn’t been walking. When he reaches base late, the Mets need a pinch runner. When the opposing team brings in a lefty out of the bullpen, they need to burn a pinch hitter.

Hopping in the DeLorean to April, Vogelbach was still a lovable member of the Mets with some question marks. Guys like Tommy Pham and Eduardo Escobar were the ones fans wanted to get rid of. It’s amazing how much things have changed. Pham played his way into the starting lineup. Escobar got better in a reduced role only to get traded to the Los Angeles Angels in late June.

It’s Vogelbach who has drawn the ire of fans the longest without any prolonged period of redemption. It’s time to cut him loose.