Operation Replace Wright

June 28, 2024

Ever since the retirement of David Wright in 2018 the Mets have been looking for their franchise 3rd basemen, they have experimented with young players, veterans and everything in between but nothing has stuck like Captain America.

David Wright's time with the Mets was a big “What if?’ as he struggled through injuries in his career and retiring at age 33. However when Wright had his moments on the field he was nothing short of amazing. When he took the field in 2004 at the old Shea Stadium Wright made a name for himself batting .293 with 14 home runs and 40 RBI’s in just 69 games. Ever since then he became a 7x All-Star, 2x Gold Glover, and 2x Silver Slugger and one of the greatest Mets ever.

After his last season in 2016 the Mets rotated through 2 different 3rd baseman in 2017, Wilmer Flores, and Asdrubal Cabrera with both of them not sticking around for the next year. In 2018 and 2019 Todd Frazier would become the 3rd basemen after signing a 2 year $8 million deal. In his Mets debut season Frazier started 109 games at the third base position but despite the consistent starting Frazier he would struggle offensively, batting near career low .213 with 18 home runs and 59 RBI’s.  In 2019 Frazier would bounce back well with a .251 batting average, 21 home runs and 67 RBI’s, this would be the end of the Frazier era in NY until he came back in the following year in 2020 for a 14 game stint where he did not do much other than hitting 2 home runs and 5 RBI’s.

In 2020 the prime 3rd baseman for the Mets was J.D. Davis who made the transition over from the outfield, coming off a very impressive 2019 campaign where he batted .307 and a .527 slugging percentage the Mets hoped he would replicate that in a shortened 2020 season. In 2020 Davis did not look like his 2019 self, he batted a .247 batting average with a .389 slugging percentage. However in 2021 JD Davis would keep his position at 3rd base. Davis started 50 games that year but on the trade deadline that year he would be traded to the Giants in a 5 player trade deal. The rest of 2021 the 3rd base position would be reserved by Jonathan Villar who would perform mediocrely and leave in the offseason. The following season in 2022 Eduardo Escobar would start a total of 128 games at 3rd base which would be the most since the Wright era. In the 128 games Escobar was coming off an all star appearance but with the Mets there were times where he did look like an all star and times he looked the complete opposite. In 2022 he batted .240 with 20 homers and 69 RBI’s, Escobar would stick around for 2023 but like JD Davis he would be traded midseason to the Angels for Coleman Crow and Landon Marceaux. Coleman Crow is now in the minor leagues for the Brewers and Landon Marceaux is in the minor league with the Mets. In 2023 the 3rd base position would start to feature 2 young prospects, Mark Vientos and Brett Baty. Brett Baty started 96 games for the Mets despite showing signs of flashes he struggled heavily batting .212 and being sent down to the minors at a point in the season. The other young prospect that took reps was Mark Vientos who also struggled in 2023 during his debut season.

This takes us to 2024 where the start of the season was started by Brett Baty. Baty started very hot, having a strong defense game and a good bat all while looking like he could be the starting 3rd baseman for years to come while 24 year old Mark Vientos was still in the minors. In late May Brett would begin to worsen, ultimately leading him to being sent down to AAA. This would lead Mark Vientos who a decent amount of Mets fans were against and saw him as a trade prospect and someone not in the future starting at 3rd. Ever since Vientos has come up from the minors he has been a hot bat and locking down the 3rd place position as Brett Baty is practicing to play 2nd base still in the minors.

Now in 2024 the operation to replace Wright may have come to an end with the rise of Mark Vientos but only time will tell if that is true.