Prospect Brett Baty still looks unlikely to make the Mets despite a huge spring.
Meanwhile, Mark Vientos, who hasn’t been as heralded, may have a better shot to be up with the big club sooner.
While both are having great springs statistically, a closer look reveals Vientos is hitting better pitching.
“He’s faced the top dogs and has looked good at the plate,” one scout said.
Baty can hit, but the Mets want him to get reps at bat, and in the field, and Eduardo Escobar is entrenched as the third baseman barring a trade (even if Escobar told The Post’s Mike Puma he isn’t certain he’s the third baseman following his WBC stint).
The Mets see Baty as their future third baseman and someone who can improve defensively.
He also barely got time at Triple-A last year before his call-up was necessitated. Superstars like Manny Machado and Nolan Arenado are rare corner guys who skipped Triple-A.
Even Kris Bryant had 330 at-bats at Triple-A (he was there a little too long, as we may recall), Ronald Acuña Jr. had 345, Matt Chapman 306 and Yordan Alvarez 470.
Some may see a lane for Baty as the DH, but Vientos is the one who may benefit there.
“Vientos has improved the most, and depending on the [Darin] Ruf situation, he might be here sooner rather than later,” one scout predicted. Danny Mendick could make the Mets, too. …
Meantime, the Mets’ current plan is to go with what they have at closer, which means David Robertson as the primary guy, with some mixing and matching, as Mets owner Steve Cohen suggested on The Post podcast “The Show.”
The plan seems to be to at least go into the season and see how it goes before possibly looking into the trade market, if needed.
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There’s no evidence there’s been serious trade talk regarding Edwin Diaz’s kid brother Alexis since last July, and the reason seems to be that the Mets are convinced the price tag will be higher than their comfort level.
Based on past talks, Mets’ people believe it might take a combo of Alex Ramirez and Kevin Parada, something they don’t want to do. …
The Reds could use a catcher, as it might benefit them to move young backstop Tyler Stephenson to first base once Joey Votto retires.
Francisco Alvarez is the player they’d like, but that’s obviously a nonstarter. Parada is a highly regarded hitter, but scouts seem divided on whether he will catch.
The Mets’ biggest worry is the health of their top pitchers.
Some are concerned Max Scherzer can’t slow down even in spring.
He already had a seven-inning outing in spring (of course he ran through that lineup like nothing). …
Ex-Red Sox prospect Jay Groome has a 0.00 ERA in Padres camp. In Opening Day call, no way should he be a bridesmaid. …
The Royals were looking at Didi Gregorius. …
Andrelton Simmons was said to be considering the Mexican League or the Dutch League if he doesn’t get a deal with MLB. …
Wishful thinking? Pedro Martinez told me he thinks the Red Sox will surprise and at least be better than folks think.
