Mark Vientos is laying it all out, telling MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo this week, “Of course I want to be a New York Met.” He’s talking about the team that drafted him, the memories he has, but let’s be real: even with that passion, Vientos’ future in Queens is anything but clear-cut right now after a rough couple of seasons.
From Breakout Star to Battling for a Spot
Man, what a wild ride it’s been for the young slugger. Just a couple of years back, in 2024, Vientos was absolutely exploding, batting a sweet .266 with 27 bombs. Then he went completely off in the Mets’ magical postseason run, hitting .327 with five more homers. Everyone thought he was a building block, the real deal. But then 2025 hit like a ton of bricks. He finally got the keys to an everyday job but slashed a measly .233/.289/.413 (.702 OPS) with only 17 dingers in 121 games. This season? More of the same, maybe even worse. He’s rocking a .218/.267/.405 (.672 OPS) with just 13 homers through 82 games. Injuries didn’t help, either, like that hand fracture in July that sent him to the IL until August 31. It’s tough, and Vientos knows it. “After ’24, I had expectations,” he admitted. “When those expectations don’t come, you start to wonder, ‘What do I need to do?’ … I believe what I did in ’24, that’s me.”
The Mets’ Tough Offseason Call Looms
So now the Mets have a massive decision coming this offseason. Vientos is arbitration-eligible for the first time, which means a significant raise in salary if they tender him a contract. But here’s the kicker: he’s also a non-tender candidate. If they go that route, his time with the Mets is officially up. New York isn’t short on options, though; they could tender him a contract and try to trade him, or even tender him and then cut him later. Interim manager Andy Green has been super upfront about the situation. When Vientos was on his rehab assignment, Green told him, “a lot of that will be dictated by how others perform and also by how he performs.” He put the ball squarely in Vientos’ court, adding, “Still think there’s a very bright future for him out there if he wants to grab a hold of it. That’s on him.” Green even applauded Vientos’ approach to the whole situation, saying he’s been a good teammate even when not in the lineup.
Vientos himself is trying to “go with the flow,” content with whatever playing time he gets. With Jared Young’s season-ending injury, Vientos just might get more shots at DH and first base. He was in Friday’s lineup as the DH, going 1-for-3 with a walk. He’s got eight games left to make a statement, to remind everyone what he did in ’24 and what he believes “is me.” Man, talk about high stakes. These next eight games are everything for his Mets future.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply