Before the 2025 season began,Mark Vientoswas viewed as a potential core piece for the Mets — someone whose eye-popping power potential shined the previous year and was at his best when the lights were the brightest in October.
By the time the 2025 campaign ended, it was fair to wonder whether Vientos might have played his last game as a Met.
And the question regarding Vientos' future grew the day after the season, when president of baseball operations David Stearnsrepeatedly cited run prevention (both pitching and defense) as the main reason why the team stumbled so badly that they fell all the way out of playoff position.
Of course, Vientos was not alone when it came to New York's defensive deficiencies.
Pete Alonso had an especially poor defensive year at first base, raising questions about his future as he again hits free agency.
Brandon Nimmo was a tick below average in left field.
Francisco Alvarez was near the bottom of the league when it came to blocking balls in the dirt.
Juan Soto, as has been the case for most of his career, was well below average in right field.
But the Mets signed up for this with Soto, knowing he would be one of the best hitters in baseball — which he was again in 2025. Alonso had the second-best OPS of his career this past season. Nimmo remains an above average offensive player.
What about Vientos?
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO TRADE VIENTOS
While Vientos' 2024 season at the plate was impressive, there were warning signs. That included his high whiff percentage and strikeout rate, as well as bat speed that was just average.
In 2025, those issues were all present again. And the season spiraled out of control for Vientos due in part to his struggles against fastballs. He hit .326 with a .615 slugging percentage against them in 2024, but just .236 with a .441 slugging percentage against them in 2025. He also had issues with offspeed stuff, slugging just .404 this year — down from .531 in 2024.
Vientos' power cratered along with his batting average and on-base percentage, as he slugged .413 (down from .516 in 2025) and hit only 17 homers over 121 games (he smacked 27 in 111 games in 2024).
At the end of the season, when the Mets badly needed someone to help them lengthen a top-heavy lineup, Vientos slashed .184/.262/.303 with two home runs in 84 plate appearances over 24 games, striking out 27 times.
While there's still reason to think Vientos can make adjustments and again be a plus offensive player, it's hard to believe his defensive issues at third base are something that can meaningfully improve.
He has worked hard on his defense, and deserves praise for how tireless the effort has been. But the results just haven't been there.
Vientos was in the sixth percentile in 2025 when it came to Outs Above Average — giving him the same mark he had in 2024. The range isn't good enough, and his overall ability at third base — despite a strong arm — is not smooth enough.
Before the Mets re-signed Alonso last offseason, they floated the idea that Vientos could slide to first base if Alonso left. They could theoretically consider that again, but it's hard to picture given Vientos' tiny bit of experience at the position (12 career starts), his struggles at third base, and Stearns' goal of seriously improving the defense.
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP VIENTOS
Despite his down year at the plate in 2025, Vientos still has real promise.
He's also young (turning 26 years old in December), inexpensive (he made a shade under $800,000 this past season), and under team control through at least 2028 (he won't hit arbitration until after the 2026 season).
And while he struggled this past season, he continued to hit the ball incredibly hard and barrel it up at a well above average rate.
The power Vientos has to all fields is the kind you can dream on. And when he's right, he can help carry a team — like he did during the Mets' run to Game 6 of the NLCS in 2024, when he slashed .327/.362/.636 with five homers, two doubles, and 14 RBI in 58 plate appearances over 13 postseason games.
There's also the fact that despite an overall down year in 2025, Vientos helped drive the offense for about a month, when he hit .304/.385/.759 with 10 homers and six doubles in 22 games from Aug. 17 to Sept. 9.
Meanwhile, with Starling Marte and Jesse Winker free agents, the Mets don't have any logical full-time designated hitter candidates on the roster.
If Alonso returns, it's possible he starts getting more at-bats at DH. But of the players on the current roster, no one profiles as a full-time option there unless it's Soto — and it will be a bit shocking if he slides there so soon into his 15-year deal.
VERDICT
The overall decision with Vientos is a tough one, but the first part of it shouldn't be.
Given Vientos' defensive struggles at third base, combined with the presence of two better hot corner defenders who also offer more positional versatility — Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio — Vientos' future as a Met would have to be as mainly a DH.
In a world where Alonso leaves, which would create a huge right-handed power void, perhaps it makes sense for the Mets to keep Vientos.
In a world where Alonso stays, it would arguably be wise to make Vientos available.
The Mets shouldn't force a move here.
But if the roster starts to shake out in a way that makes Vientos' presence a bit redundant and the Mets can get something of legitimate value back for him via trade, now could be the time to move on.
