The Mets have Trey Mancini and Adam Duvall “on their radar,” according to Andy Martino of SNY.
Mancini, 31 in March, put up a monster season in 2019, hitting 35 home runs and batting .291/.364/.535. Although that was the “juiced ball” season, that production was still 32% better than league average, as evidenced by his 132 wRC+. He then missed the 2020 season while undergoing treatment for a colon cancer diagnosis, but he made an inspiring return to the field the following year.
Over the past couple of seasons, Mancini has settled in as a cromulent player, although a notch below that excellent 2019 showing. He’s produced a combined .247/.323/.412 batting line in 2021 and 2022, leading to a wRC+ of 104. He’s provided some above-average defense at first base while also playing the outfield corners on occasion. His market has been fairly quiet thus far this winter, with the Cubs lone team showing reported interest. However, that was before they signed first baseman Eric Hosmer, which perhaps dampens their interest in Mancini.
Duvall, 34, is coming off a down year, though he had a good showing in the prior campaign. He’s always been a high-strikeout guy and that was indeed the case again in 2021. He was punched out in 31.4% of his plate appearances but also hit 38 home runs. That led to a batting line of .228/.281/.491 for a wRC+ of 103. He also provided excellent outfield defense, winning a Gold Glove in right field as a result.
Unfortunately, Duvall took a step back last year. He hit .213/.276/.401 for a wRC+ of 87 before his season was cut short by wrist surgery in July. That’s certainly not an ideal platform for this trip into free agency but he showed what he’s capable of the year before. Like Mancini, his market has been relatively quiet this offseason, with this appearing to be the first public connection to a team.
The Mets have seemingly been on the lookout for a complementary player to add to their outfield mix. Their interest in Andrew McCutchen was reported yesterday, and now this interest in Mancini and Duvall adds a couple more names into the mix. All three players are right-handed bats who have at least some capability to spend some time in the outfield. The current outfield should feature Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and Mark Canha taking up the bulk of the time, but it makes sense to add to it for injury insurance. Khalil Lee could be used as a fourth outfielder but he had a poor season in Triple-A last year and still has an option remaining.
Darin Ruf is in the mix as someone who can occasionally play outfield and platoon with lefty Daniel Vogelbach at designated hitter. However, he struggled badly after coming over to the Mets in a trade with the Giants. He was hitting .216/.328/.373 at the time of the deal but produced an ice-cold line of .152/.216/.197 after. It seems the club is hoping to bring in another option for that job, with McCutchen, Mancini and Duval three names under consideration. Some other options still available in free agency include Tommy Pham, Brian Anderson and the switch-hitting Jurickson Profar.
Go Pink Panther. Never great to have illness related to the exit.
Mets really want to move on from Ruf, it seems…
@positively_broad_st as a long time Mets fan all I want is for Eppler to curb his ego and admit he made a mistake with Darin Duf and get rid of him.
He was about as bad as can be with the Mets. I hope they decide to move on. He might bounce back, but I don’t want to gamble on that.
He likely will be gone, but it’s not a terrible gamble for Cohen, since his salary is $3M. They could get about a quarter of it back if he’s DFA’d, clears waivers, then signs somewhere else for the minimum. They’re much more likely to see that discount than they are to see any future discount from Canó. Personally, I think the package they gave up for Ruf should’ve brought Wilmer home.
If they sign any of the names being mentioned, Ruf is likely to be DFA’d. He could get a chance to show improvement in Spring Training either way since the Mets have to pay him anyway. He could accept the outright assignment with an NRI then request his release if he doesn’t crack the main roster.
That is along the line of my thinking. Why cut him loose now for no return when you can try him out in ST? Maybe he’ll start hitting again. If not, let him go then. And if he does start hitting, then maybe the Mets can find a trading partner.
@Canosucks. I’m used to checking on posters claims about players and finding them exaggerated or just flat out not true. Didn’t find that with you, my friend. I get your sentiment. He was pretty lousy for the Mets. It also doesn’t make things better that J.D.Davis did really well for the Giants.
Also have to agree with Huck. If the Mets have the roster spot to spare, keep the guy and see if he turns it around. You lose nothing in seeing him through ST.
Ruf blows. Trade him to Osaka for a cute Japanese cheerleader. Alvarez can DH.
Indeed. Both players are very cromulent.
Casey
Either you watch the Simpsons or you are a sesquipedalian
I also came here to mention cromulent..love it! 🙂
I can definitely live without either player
Profar is the best of the list. But he’s not the ideal candidate
Would think any of those 3 named fill the stated need. Assuming they unload Ruf to clear roster – who spells Alonso @ 1B every now and then, Cahna? Can Vogelbach play position?
Ruf was horrendous last season. If Mancini is the guy you’d have to imagine he’s the 1B when Alonso is the DH
apparently you spell him and you do so correctly!
I think that Vientos might get a shot.
They could elect not to sign anyone else now and fill it from within. Vientos, Alvarez, Mendick and Ruf could have a competition for it in Spring Training. We know the Mets plan to go after Ohtani after next season, if not before the trade deadline. Ruf and Vogelbach will be off the books then, anyway.
There are 1200 players on active MLB rosters and the Mets have been linked to them all.
Cry.
That’s because they can afford them all now.
1200 seems every time I see it like way way way too big a number but then I do the math and think wow, there are 1200 people that could be active for a baseball game at any moment. What may be crazier is the 780 players on the active roster day in and day out. Thats a lot of people often.
Gotta admit that I had to look up “cromulent”.
Oh, I could’ve told you, they’re next to the pastries.
I need to start feathering that into my vocab
Good use of feathering!
Don’t bother. It’s pretentious when you could simply say adequate or acceptable.
I will dispute this definition claim: “the continental breakfast was perfectly cromulent”
Yeah, the word “perfectly” is definitely not cromulent there. 🙂
No shame in having to look up that.word.
Sounds like the newest COVID variant..lol
We should bring in Mancini He is the best available!
Perhaps let us know who the Mets aren’t interested in. That’ll be easier.
Carlos Correa (post-physical)
Too soon?
Learned a new word today! Cromulent reminded me of ordering breakfast: “yes, i’d like the omelete with bacon and crumpets please.”
“How was your breakfast sir?”
“Cromulent, thank you”
It’s pretentious to use cromulent when you could simply say “adequate” or “acceptable.” It’s simply for drawing attention to yourself.
Has cornelius in online forum username…
Or maybe, and just go with me here, this could be a wild stretch, but maybe some people just like expanding their vocabularies??
It’s pretentious to assume he would only want to learn the word to draw attention to himself.
Not all sesquipedalians are pretentious, some just canoodle with polysyllabic verbiage.
@utah cornelius,
Indubitably!
Why are they going after finished players? I’d rather take a chance on Duvall over Mancini, but I would really like neither of them. Canha can’t be our everyday left fielder, he does great when he gets rest once every 3 games. Canha needs to be relegated to a fourth outfielder role + insurance for when Marte/Nimmo eventually get hurt. Like I said in an earlier post, make a trade for Joc Pederson, he shouldn’t cost a ton. I don’t see the Pirates trading Reynolds so thats out. I don’t know if Bauer is innocent or not, that will never be proven, but I do know that there have been players who got on teams after similar or worse instances of domestic violence. Have Bauer as our third starter, trade off Carrasco and a prospect for a third outfielder, possibly Pederson, Mike Yaz, or try and pry away Lourdes Guriel of the DBacks
They gave Joc the QC, what on earth makes you think he wouldn’t cost much? Typical LOLMets.
@Sid he had 1.7 War last year and was a home favorite. He cooled off in the second half last year. His defense is below average. I said Carrasco and a prospect. He is only on a one year deal. A package of Carrasco and someone like Matt Allen should get it done
That wouldn’t be a smart deal getting rid of a solid pitcher in Carrasco making only $14M for Joc. The Mets have also publicly stated that they have no interest in Bauer. So did the Yankees. If opens his mouth in NYC, the media will have a buffet. Not worth that kind of distraction and certainly unfair to his teammates.
@YankeesBleacherCreature despite what Carrasco’s stats say, hes terrible. Gets shelled by any team with a record over .500. Would rather have Peterson in the rotation
And Peterson, as depth, will have his chance to start a few games. JV and Scherzer will certainly miss a few of them.
Oddly enough I got a call from the Mets today. They said they were interested in me.
I wouldn’t accept. I hear their physicals are a beast.
@Clipper not only are the physicals hard but the doctors have cold hands.
And big fingers…
I hear the Mets physical includes a prostate exam.
Yeah, that’s true from what I read on a shady international reporting site. Said you need to enter a random credit card & social security number for some reason.
Anyway, Something about Correa going in for an exam in NY but the doc was stunned, recognized nothing, referred to his medical books, and discerned Carlos needed to be sent to the closest gynecologist. He went to school with one who now lives in MN, so he told Carlos to go there. Rest is history.
Oh, and for those of you who are genuinely curious, I heard from an inside source that Carlos is not pregnant. The source’s name rhymes with Ron Blaymen, but I can’t divulge who it is.
I had a meeting at Citi yesterday but all they offered were two tickets to the upper deck for a weekday game in exchange for a pint of B+. And all the Oreos, chips, water bottles, and juice I could cram in my bag.
If you get either cheap enough you can always cut them loose. Maybe one of them will be a somewhat above average player (a long shot, but not impossible).
Surprised Giants are not in on Mancini, seems like a good fit with Belt gone.
Good depth pieces wherever they land.
I’m just not understanding pursuing these past their prime players. Just let Baty play in LF and some DH, Vientos DH, Alvarez at C and some DH. I feel very confident they’ll outperform players of this caliber by the end of the year, and they’ll get some MLB experience on a team that’s pretty loaded and can afford to do this.
All of them looked overmatched by MLB pitching and none are good defenders. Alvarez will be catching in AAA, because his offense as a catcher is what makes him special. Baty barely played in AAA last year, and was only called up because of all the injuries. Vientos might be a candidate to perform in ST and maybe make the team as a can’t play defense DH/OF/1B/3B last man on the roster.
I like the idea of signing a veteran and having the young guys force themselves into playing time. At that point remove the veteran.
Uber Pessimistic guy over here.
They didn’t look overmatched at all. Their hard hit rates were fine and BABIPs ultra low. And none had more than 38 ab. Look at how Harris on Atlanta did in his first 38ab last year and everyone would’ve said he was overmatched too. Fielding is a different matter, and I have no idea how baty would do in LF. But these players they’re talking about signing to fill that role have way less upside than the prospects and not even high floors.
Agreed on the upside, but they will get their chance after some AAA time. I still believe in them, but Alvarez needs to catch full time to develop and Baty should get more AAA at bats and time in the outfield.
At some point they will be ready and needed. If you’re counting on them at the ML level then you have less depth. I want them behind the veterans who will get injured or fail. You may disagree, but that’s what will happen.
I don’t disagree that much, I think I’m just sick of the articles of the Mets being interested in some veteran who hasn’t been very good in a long while. I’d rather watch the kids struggle and at least gain some experience.
I don’t disagree much either, there is plenty to like with Alvarez and Baty.If they weren’t a win now team, and Baty and Alvarez could play every day, then I would absolutely love to see them start.
The issue is the 2023 Mets and their veteran pitching staff won’t accept Alvarez learning on the job, and by all accounts he still needs defensive improvement. Baty also needs to play everyday at AAA, not fill in at the MLB level. He can play everyday split between LF and 3B in the minors.
The only veteran contact I would bring in would be a 1 year, relatively low dollar deal. That way when Alvarez and or Baty can supplant them when they are ready to start every day. Elite prospects should play everyday.
All of them looked overmatched by MLB pitching
============================
They actually looked good offensively. If their BABIP normalized to .300, their OPS will be pretty good.
Yep… and Alvarez the last two games 2-4 HR, 2b, 2bb… you could tell he was already adjusting to the nerves, albeit against a terrible Wash team
A huge 2 game sample size against AAAA players who wouldn’t be in the majors for anyone else. Impressive.
Better than going 0-4 both games. Point is I can say the same about his three games before vs Atlanta. The sample sizes of all three were way too small.
“I’m just not understanding pursuing these past their prime players”
I equally share this sentiment but only fans liking wanting past their prime players. Imagining 4 year ago stats reocurring is such a very small chance.
Mlb front offices slowly caught on what staticians have been saying for 30 years +
Cohen should call Harris personally to work out a deal.
Harris who?
….yeah…I know…..
that’s probably a quote from Mr. Cohen…….
Duvall is off limits, come on don’t make me root against one of the boys
It’s only fair since you made Mets fans root against Cano.
Eppler never made a successful trade in his life. What makes anyone think that will change? Worst GM in the history of baseball!
I am a beat up old catcher with bad knees and a worse disposition.
The Mets called to say they were interested in me…until the physical at least.
They’ll still be interested after you inevitably fail the physical they knew you’d fail, they’ll just not admit that they were hoping to get a big discount post failed physical.
Cubs should sign both and throw them into the 1B blender with Hosmer. Can’t be that expensive for some lottery tickets you cna trade at the deadline.
Cromulent? If you mean adequate or average, just say that. It makes no sense to use obscure words.
Maybe you need to embiggen your vocabulary.
Cheap power and solid defense in Duvall… where you at Bloom?
Ref is the #4.
Inside an algorithm of a spreadsheet.
Now we’ve identified which commenters are not Simpsons fans.
Why not Luke Voit? He’s finally healthy, younger, and would be a much better option.
Voit only can play 1B or DH. Mancini at least has experience in LF and Duvall can play all 3 OF positions if needed.
Voit could be your everyday DH. Big upgrade over Vogelburger.
Love the Simpsons reference – cromulent. Nice.
It’s possible both could be added with Mancini being a RHH DH option & Duvall as a 4th OF. Probably would just stick with Duvall in both roles however.
Unless they let Ruff go, they only need one more position player. I know Ruff looked rough as a Met last year, but I believe they will give him a run with a short leash.
Nice try, but the joke is kind of lame with his name actually being RUF.
The extra F is for failure. Admittedly, it was just lame.
Some people call him Babe Ruf. With a hard u. When he’s hot the dude can take.
Hasn’t it already been established that the Mets are basically interested in anyone with a pulse?
Carlos Delgado is looking at ads for a new boat.
Did Cohen purchase the MLB additional content where you can have a 60 man roster?
I use “perfectly cromulent” in relatively serious, normal conversation and I love that it’s gradually becoming a legitimized word that gets used in articles like this one- and accurately, too.
Good ole Simpsons.
Mancini is due for a comeback year. I wish the guy well.
The Mets would sign God to a 10+ year contract, if they could
I thought cromulent was a brand of moisturizer.