Ranking 5 realistic options at third base for the Mets in 2024

1) Brett Baty and Eduardo Escobar platoon at third base

Part of me believes Mets fans wouldn't be that excited for a reunion between Escobar and the team in 2024. After the Mets fell so flat in 2023, do you really want to run it back with so many similar pieces?

On the other hand, Escobar was a beloved clubhouse presence, and he fell victim to the Mets being unable to commit strongly to any one direction at the position. Escobar began the year as the unquestioned starter, but after struggling and seeing Baty get off to a hot start in the majors, he was pushed aside to play a limited bench role as Baty took over.

Baty's strong debut was a bit of a mirage, as he has struggled the longer the season has gone on. Escobar, meanwhile, played well in a pinch-hitting role before being shipped to the Angels. LA does have a club option on Escobar next year, but the team likely won't have a place for him if Anthony Rendon and Brandon Drury enter the season healthy, which would allow him to enter free agency.

Bringing Escobar back for a straight platoon with Baty makes a lot of sense. He's hit .288 with an OPS of .788 against lefties, and he'd be a capable late-inning pinch hitter against the Josh Haders of the world. The Mets should also be able to sign him for a reasonable price.

Escobar was a willing and gracious mentor to Baty, and the young third baseman's recent struggles have more or less coincided with the time Escobar has spent on the West Coast. Not only would an Escobar/Baty platoon make Buck Showalter's life easier, it could help Baty develop into the franchise's third baseman of the future.