As promised by Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, the club has been active ahead of the trade deadline.
They’ve already landed a top-tier reliever in Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles, and are rumored to be in the market for more bullpen arms and center fielders.
One player they’re believed to be interested in, Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, has left me stumped.
On Tuesday, Andy Martino of SNY reported:
“They’ve been talking to the Rays about Brandon Lowe, who I learned today they’ve been on for like a year,” Martino said, via X/Twitter. “So that’s why that’s potentially something to watch there.”
Such a move could create log jams around the infield, leaving players like Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos with less playing time at a pivotal point in their careers.
After missing a year-plus, Mauricio has recently been finding his swing, including a big game-tying, ninth-inning home run against the Padres on Monday. Before Tuesday’s 0-for-4 effort against San Diego, Mauricio was 7-for-13 with four extra-base hits, including two home runs, during a four-game stretch.
Vientos has also begun to resemble the player who emerged as a rising star last season after a slow start. He’s 17-for-51 (.333 batting average) with six extra-base hits and 10 RBIs in his last 14 games.
Even Baty, who some thought wasn’t cut out for New York, has proven worthy of a spot on the roster this season. On top of added defensive versatility — he can play third, second and outfield — he went 7-for-19 with three extra-base hits, two home runs, in the Mets’ last home stand, helping the team kick off a seven-game win streak that put them back in first place in the National League East.
A move for Lowe would most certainly mean the Mets have moved (or will move) Baty or Vientos, creating space for him to remain the everyday second baseman. Even then, the Mets would still have too many infield pieces to work with, which isn’t the worst problem to have, though it is unnecessary.
Lowe is a proven talent around baseball. A two-time All-Star, he has a lifetime .248/.329/.482 slashline with a 124 OPS+.
Lowe is in the final year of a seven-year, $33.5 million contract that includes a $11.5 million club option for next season. He’s owed the remainder of $10.5 million this season.
Baty, Mauricio and Vientos are under club control until 2030.
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Manny Gómez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
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