Mark Vientos may not be out of the Mets’ plans just yet.
That was the message from president of baseball operations David Stearns on Wednesday at the GM meetings in Las Vegas, where he said he still believes Vientos can earn his way onto New York’s roster in 2027.
“Mark didn’t have the season that he wanted to,” Stearns said (h/t SNY Mets on Twitter). “He didn’t have the season that we think he’s capable of having.
He’s going into the offseason as a really motivated player. If he’s able to do that, he’s going to have an opportunity with us.”
Vientos entered the organization’s long-term picture after a breakout 2024 season that looked like the start of something bigger. He launched a career-best 27 home runs and set a Mets franchise record with 14 postseason RBI, flashing the kind of power that made him look like a fixture in the lineup.
The last two seasons, though, have been a different story.
In 121 games in 2025, Vientos hit .233/.289/.413 with 17 home runs, 61 RBI and a .702 OPS while also missing time with a hamstring strain. His 2026 season was even tougher. The 26-year-old batted .212/.258/.394 with 13 homers, 41 RBI and a .652 OPS, and he lost more than a month after being hit by a pitch and suffering a fractured right hand.
For much of 2026, Vientos was pushed to the margins. He spent most of the year as a bench bat and pinch-hitting option, with his defense once again limiting how much the Mets could trust him.
That defensive issue is a big part of why his path back is complicated. New York has clear needs this offseason, including first base and an everyday DH, two spots the Mets have leaned on Vientos to fill. But the club can’t realistically bank on him as even a platoon answer at either position.
He played 67 games at first base and 14 at DH last season, but the results weren’t encouraging. He made eight errors in 2026, with trouble on foul pop-ups and ground balls that didn’t stay cleanly in front of him.
His run at third base also appears finished. Bo Bichette opted into his contract, and Brett Baty is a possible platoon option there, leaving little room for Vientos on the infield.
Even with that crowded picture, Stearns’ comments suggest the Mets aren’t closing the door. Vientos may still get a chance to prove he belongs in 2027 - but what he does with that chance will decide everything.
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