Ahead of the 2025 season, it was fair to wonder whetherBrett Baty was about to get his last, best chance to show he could be a big part of the Mets' future.
In parts of three seasons with New York after making his debut late during the 2022 season, Baty's performance at the plate wasn't just underwhelming — there also seemed to be a confidence issue.
Over 602 plate appearances spanning 169 games between 2022 and 2024, Baty slashed just .215/.282/.325 with 15 homers. He hit the ball on the ground way too much, had too many poor at-bats, and watched as the Mets' long-term third base job seemingly slipped away.
But while Mark Vientos staked his third base claim in 2024 as he popped 27 homers in 111 regular season games before having a power surge during New York's run to the NLCS, he relinquished it in 2025 — leading to an opportunity for Baty, who also got plenty of time at second base.
And even though Baty didn't break the door down once given his chance, he finally started to put it all together.
In 432 plate appearances spanning 130 games this past season, Baty hit .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs and 13 doubles. His .748 OPS dwarfed his previous career-best OPS of .633, his OPS+ of 111 was solidly above league average, and his defense at third base was smooth and reliable.
But with the Mets entering an offseason where the offensive core could be shaken up, could Baty be impacted?
Should Baty be part of the calculus going forward, or is it time to explore a trade?
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO LET BATY GO
Baty did a lot of things right in 2025, but he still hits the ball on the ground a ton.
His 51.0 percent groundball rate was improved from 2024 (54.5 percent) but still well above the MLB average of 44.2 percent. Baty also strikes out at a pretty high clip for someone whose doesn't hit for a lot of power. And he won't make an impact on the bases.
It can be argued, though, that it's not really Baty's performance/profile that could make his situation tenuous, but the presence of others.
In other words, with Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmo locked in, it's hard to envision the Mets making a big offensive addition unless it's at third base or first base.
If that move comes at first base in the form of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, perhaps they'll simply slot Baty back in at third base. But in a world where New York re-signs Pete Alonso, would they be comfortable handing third base to Baty and basically running back the same offense that was so hit-or-miss in 2025?
What if Alonso walks, the Mets miss on Murakami, and sign/trade for a stopgap first baseman for 2026 who doesn't offer a ton offensively?
In that scenario, it's fair to think they'd look to bolster the offense elsewhere, with third base being a sensible spot to upgrade. And if they go that route, free agent Alex Bregman — who is a plus offensive player and a plus defender — could make a lot of sense.
Baty can also play second base, but the presence of top prospect Jett Williams — whose big league debut should come in 2026 — complicates the long-term view there.
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP BATY
In addition to Baty's standard offensive numbers, his advanced metrics also told a nice story in 2025.
His bat speed was elite, while his hard hit percentage, barrel percentage, and xSLG were all well above average. Baty was also above average when it came to xwOBA, average exit velocity, and chase percentage.
And while the Mets possibly shaking up the offense might make Baty's future a little more uncertain than it would have otherwise been, his ability to play strong defense at third base is a huge plus to consider as David Stearns and the front office look to fortify the team's run prevention.
Even in a world where the Mets aren't sold on Baty as a starting player or simply want to go in a different direction at third base, he could still provide lots of value as a versatile bench player capable of handling third base, second base, and perhaps corner outfield in a pinch. He could also theoretically be part of the answer at designated hitter.
There's also Baty's age (26 for all of next season), cost, and team control to consider.
He won't become arbitration-eligible until after the 2026 season, is under team control through 2029, and made just $774,000 in 2025.
So the Mets have no reason to be in a rush to make a final determination on Baty.
VERDICT
Unless there's a potential trade partner that locks in on Baty as a key target in a deal that would bring an impact player back to New York, it should be an easy choice to keep him.
Depending on how the offseason goes, Baty could enter the season as the starting third baseman, second baseman, or a key bench player.
And while Williams and Benge should be lineup options at some point in 2026, it will be a big surprise if either player is part of the plan by Opening Day.
There's also a possibility the Mets trade Jeff McNeil this offseason. The departure of McNeil, who is entering the final year of his contract, would make the presence of Baty even more important.
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