You meet a third party Brett Baty is attracting trade interest from around the league, and the front office is listening to at least one offer for the best man, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post. Baty isn’t bought but he isn’t off limits either, making him an option for clubs looking for affordable (salary-wise) help at the hot corner.
Baty has long looked like a sensible trade prospect. He made our list of potential offseason trades this winter, thanks in large part to the emergence of Mark Vientos at third base and a chance to re-sign the Mets Pete Alonso. In the event that Alonso signs elsewhere and Vientos moves across the diamond to the starting spot, there could still be a way for Baty to claim an everyday gig at the hot corner, but he has stumbled several times when given that opportunity in recent seasons. Mets fans will want to look to Puma’s piece for deep quotes from scouts around the league, several of whom feel that Baty is too young or two to establish himself as a regular major league player.
Of course, scouting ideas like that only emphasize that other teams would love to get their hands on the 25-year-old Baty. The former No. 12 overall pick (2019) and long-time top prospect only compiled a .215/.282/.325 line in his first 602 MLB plate appearances, though those hits were spread across three seasons. Baty is a .273/.368/.531 hitter in 416 Triple-A plate appearances and has shown improving strike zone awareness even in the majors. He walked at a 9.4% clip last year and dropped his strikeout rate from 28% in 2023 to 24.6% in 2024. Baty played in 21.2% of his plate appearances in Triple-A and walked at a 12.4% clip in 2024.
Baty still has a minor league option remaining, and is under the club for at least five more seasons. That lessens any urgency to deal him, but with the Mets looking to add more starting pitchers — even after the signing. Frankie Montas – there is an obvious way to use Baty as a trading chip as well.
The Mets’ focus is clear Juan Soto for now, but how that market plays out could have an impact on Baty’s future in Queens as well. If the Mets don’t make a move on Soto, they may be aggressive on Alonso, Willy Adams or Alex Bregmaneither of which could further derail Baty’s path to Citi Field. Baty has seen time at second base and left field, but his natural and best position is at third base.
The Blue Jays, Astros, Angels, Mariners, Tigers, Royals and Brewers are among the teams that could look for third base help on the trade market in the coming weeks. (The Yankees would also be very surprised to see a significant trade between the two New York teams.) The Mariners’ young start is the envy of many clubs in the league, but the president of baseball. Jerry Dipoto is now famous for selling one of his starters as “Plan Z” on a list of things to do in late September.
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