Marlins Explored Trades For Mets’ Brett Baty

The Marlins spent a lot of the season in search of methods to transform their surplus of beginning pitchers into some assist on the plate, and that quest may need ended this week when the Fish dealt Pablo Lopez to the Twins as a part of a four-player swap that despatched Luis Arraez to Miami.  Earlier than that transfer, nevertheless, Mets third base prospect Brett Baty was one of many different names on Miami’s radar, and the New York Post’s Jon Heyman experiences that the Marlins had been prepared to supply both Jesus Luzardo or Edward Cabrera in return.

Experiences earlier this month indicated that the Marlins had additionally talked to the Mets about Eduardo Escobar, when New York seemingly had an settlement in place with Carlos Correa.  Had the Correa contract been finalized, an Escobar deal to the Marlins may’ve been been extra viable, however the Mets naturally opted to hold onto Escobar as soon as the membership had some points with Correa’s bodily.  Heyman writes that the Marlins’ curiosity in Baty existed “each earlier than and after the Mets’ Carlos Correa deal fell by,” and it’s in all probability protected to imagine that the Mets’ willingness to maneuver Baty additionally diminished within the aftermath of the Correa state of affairs.

Whereas there appears to be no monetary restrict on the Mets’ need to improve their roster, Steve Cohen’s splashy dives into free company have been associated to the membership’s need to hold onto its minor league depth.  Whereas New York has moved some prime younger gamers in trades throughout Cohen’s two-plus years as proprietor, the Mets haven’t been prepared to completely clear out the farm system for confirmed veterans.  As such, gamers like Baty, Francisco Alvarez, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, and prospects additional away from the majors have remained in New York’s group.

Since Correa is not within the image and the 34-year-old Escobar is getting into his final yr underneath contract, Baty might as soon as once more be the Amazins’ third baseman of the long run, and even current if he begins to tackle a bigger function in 2023.  Baty made his MLB debut final season and will doubtlessly be deployed in a platoon with Escobar this yr, or may see some motion in left discipline.  As Baty lately informed MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, he would’ve been pleased to change positions within the occasion of a Correa signing, saying “I simply wish to be within the huge leagues serving to a group win.”  Baty additionally stated he feels “stronger than ever” within the wake of the thumb surgical procedure that prematurely ended his 2022 season, and although he has been totally healed since November, Baty will probably be heading to Spring Coaching early to make up for misplaced prep time.

With Baty wanting like a key determine within the Mets’ future plans, it might’ve taken fairly a commerce haul to get the group to alter its thoughts about buying and selling the third baseman….a haul akin to, say, a controllable and proficient younger pitcher like Luzardo or Cabrera.  Such a commerce might not be on the desk within the wake of the Arraez transfer, however it might’ve been a captivating swap of younger skills, particularly with the added wrinkle of the Mets and Marlins being division rivals.  Both Luzardo or Cabrera would’ve added youth and long-term management to a veteran Mets rotation that at the moment has just one pitcher (Kodai Senga) locked up past the 2024 season.  Carlos Carrasco is getting into the final yr of his contract, whereas Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Jose Quintana are all solely assured by the 2024 marketing campaign (although Verlander has a vesting possibility for 2025).

Had the Marlins efficiently landed Baty, their roster strikes of the previous couple of weeks would’ve naturally been fairly completely different, and the Arraez commerce possible doesn’t occur.  On this situation, Baty possible turns into the brand new on a regular basis third baseman, whereas Jean Segura would’ve performed second base quite than the new nook.  This might’ve nonetheless opened the door for Jazz Chisholm Jr. to be moved to middle discipline, because the Marlins are seeing if the All-Star second baseman’s pace and arm can translate to success as an outfielder.