The Mets placed infielder Brett Baty on the 10-day injured list due to a right oblique strain. Outfielder Jared Young was called up from Triple-A Syracuse in the corresponding move. New York also announced that outfielder Jose Siri and left-hander Richard Lovelady each cleared waivers and were outrighted to Syracuse.
Baty was removed in the second inning of Friday’s 6-2 loss to the Marlins with what was described initially as side tightness. The severity of the strain isn’t yet known, but at the very least, Baty will miss the Mets’ last two regular-season games and wouldn’t be available until partway through the NLDS, should the Mets both reach the playoffs in the first place and then advance beyond the wild card round. Anything beyond a minimal strain will probably end Baty’s season entirely, given how most oblique injuries require at least 3-4 weeks of recovery time.
New York faces an uphill battle to make it to October, since the Reds hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Mets. Both teams are 82-78, so if the Reds win out (or the Mets lose one and the Reds win one), Cincinnati will clinch the final NL playoff berth.
This difficult path to the postseason will be even trickier without Baty, who has hit .312/.368/.512 with seven home runs over his last 136 plate appearances. This hot streak over the last six weeks has raised Baty’s season-long slash line to .254/.313/.435 over 432 PA, and his wRC+ is now 111. Since Baty had only a 71 wRC+ in 602 big league plate appearances prior to 2025, this season has been a welcome step forward for a player who was once the top prospect in New York’s farm system. Beyond his improved hitting, Baty has also been providing pretty steady glovework at both second and third base, and his work at the keystone represents Baty’s first time playing second base at the MLB level.
Baty has mostly stuck to third base over the last few weeks, and any of Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuna, or Ronny Mauricio (who is at the hot corner in today’s lineup) could handle the position this weekend and potentially into the playoffs. Young’s return to the active roster gives the Mets enough outfield depth to keep McNeil more or less locked at second base.
Siri and Lovelady were each designated for assignment earlier this week. Both players have the right to reject the outright assignment in favor of free agency — Siri because he has more than three years of MLB service time, and Lovelady because he has previously been outrighted in his career. Electing free agency would cost Siri what little remains of his $2.4MM salary for 2025, and he might prefer to stick with the Mets just in case they make the playoffs and injuries open a roster spot. Lovelady is a longer shot to make any postseason roster, so the southpaw may prefer to become a free agent and get an early start on the offseason market.
He’s done enough to get the job at third next year. Pending what happens with Alonso, I think Vientos gets dealt. Obviously if Pete walks the odds are a lot better that Vientos sticks around, but I expect the Mets to resign the Polar Bear.
Vientos getting dealt is iffy. How much trade value do you really think he has?
For openers, Alonso will exercise his opt-out, then try to get his best possible deal. Even if he circles back to and re-signs with the Mets, that process will take a month or two (if not longer). So Vientos stays until that is complete. And even if Alonso comes back, the Mets still need a DH.
Trading Vientos now would be selling low on him. While he seemed to recover from his season-long daze in August, he has slumped again in September (.535 OPS). So how much trade value does he have? There is more value in holding on to him and trying to get him on track, or at least using him as a platoon DH, than there is in trade.
The window for trading Vientos and getting anything in return was this past off-season. Yankees and Mariners both would have likely given a good return.
I think they had to keep him around in case they didn’t resign Pete. He may stick around this off-season for the same reason.
I hope the Mets trade him to a American league club,he kills the Cubs
Every major league team plays the Cubs now. Balanced schedule.
And the Yankees were thinking about trading for him?
He likely wouldn’t have gotten hurt if he was traded. But it looks like Chisolm may be hurt now. Caballero to 2B and Volpe back to full time SS for playoffs??
CT scan on Chisholm came back negative. Should be good to go for Sunday.
XRay and CT negative. Day-to-day status.
Hope Siri stays, since having a PR/defensive replacement is very useful in the playoffs, if the Mets get there.
@ bbgods Even if he stays, he is no longer on the 40-man roster. So he would have to be added back – which means someone else would have to be removed to make room for him. And they already have Acuna who can fill those roles, albeit at other positions defensively.
He was terrible! I can’t imagine him sticking around.
Terrible hitter, incredible baserunner. Remember Terrence Gore? There is value in that skill in the postseason.
Of course it doesn’t matter now.
Baty had a mini breakout
Flashed some solid #s for a 2b/3b
Finally delivered on the promise he showed as a prospect
Earned a starting gig next yr
And he improved his defense as well
Lot of people, especially here, have been ripping Baty and saying he’d never pan out. He took a major step forward this year. Should be the favorite to be the everyday 3B next season. Seemed to improve a bit against lefties as the season went on, too, when he was given the chance.
Still not seeing why or how Mauricio and Vientos get dealt. Why sell low on them now? They don’t have much trade value, but both still have talent, potential, and years of club control. And Mauricio still has one option left. If they continue to underperform, they can be marginalized into bench/role players.
Mauricio was kept on the roster despite his performance this year for the sole purpose of preserving his last option. So the Mets clearly feel that he has more upside. Keep them around, see if they build more value, and revisit this later (trade deadline or next off season) after you have a clearer handle on how close Clifford and Williams are to the majors.
Sean Manaea is starting Game 162 on Sunday.
Mets fans, you have been warned.
Is Glavine available
@pope Too soon
I guess you clowns didn’t spend enough money this season. The subway tunnels are not the only place in NYC where the stink rises.