Mark Vientos’ future with the Mets looks increasingly uncertain, and that’s opened the door to an offseason trade market that could make sense for both sides. After a huge, highlight-packed 2024, the 26-year-old has not come close to that level again. This season, in 274 at-bats, Vientos hit just .652 OPS with a 78 wRC+.
With new prospects pushing toward the majors and roster real estate getting tighter by the day, New York may decide it can’t keep waiting for Vientos to rediscover the form that once made him look like a long-term answer. Another club, though, might see a chance to buy low.
Seattle stands out first. The Mariners simply need offense, and badly.
Their .693 team OPS in 2026 was fourth-worst in baseball, and now Randy Arozarena is a free agent after serving as their top bat. Josh Naylor has first base spoken for, but third base is more open.
Brendan Donovan is projected to start there, though his value comes from being movable all over the diamond after winning the National League Utility Gold Glove Award in 2022.
That’s where Vientos could fit. His defense is still a concern, but Seattle might be willing to live with that if it means adding another power threat.
The Mariners’ other third-base options - Patrick Wisdom, Leo Rivas, Weston Wilson and Brock Rodden - all finished 2026 with OPS marks below .600. Vientos could end up getting most of the starts at third or even mix in at designated hitter, sharing time with left-handed bat Dominic Canzone depending on the matchup.
For the Mets, a deal could mean pitching depth back from a Mariners system that has plenty of arms in the majors and minors.
Miami also makes sense as a landing spot. The Marlins have a young roster that is still taking shape, and Vientos could be the kind of player they can afford to give a longer runway.
Javier Sanoja is their main third baseman, but he’s also flexible and has the same National League Utility Gold Glove Award on his résumé. Beyond that, Miami’s options - Graham Pauley, Deyvison De Los Santos and Jared Serna - have yet to lock down meaningful roles.
The Marlins did add former first-round pick Brayden Taylor from the Rays at the deadline in the Liam Hicks deal, but his .194 average in 33 Triple-A games suggests he still needs more time. Free agency could be a route for Miami, but the organization’s reluctance to spend heavily there makes a trade a more realistic path.
Vientos would bring more upside than most of the available alternatives, and he grew up in South Florida. A move home might be enough to help unlock the power that produced 27 home runs in 2024.
The Angels are the third fit, even if the organization’s recent history tells the story of a team constantly searching for answers. Los Angeles last reached the playoffs in 2014 and has not finished above .500 since 2015, when Mike Trout was still in his prime.
Third base is one of the spots that needs fixing most. Angels third basemen posted a .635 OPS this season, the second straight year they ranked in the bottom five in that category. The roster is young and still unsettled, even with Zach Neto among the few players who have started to establish themselves - and even he has been heavily discussed in trade rumors.
For a club trying to get back to October, taking a shot on a rebound candidate like Vientos fits the logic. He would be a buy-low gamble with real upside, and what he did in 2024 makes the idea hard to dismiss for Los Angeles.
If the Mets wanted to use Vientos to help fill another hole, the return could include a high-upside reliever such as Ben Joyce. New York would probably need to add more than just Vientos, but he could serve as a solid starting point in talks.
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Now theres a bit more context to revisit it with. Ohtani never moved in a trade, eventually leaving the Angels through free agency instead, while the Mets have since watched those prospect names take very different paths. Baty and Parada remain part of the conversation in Queens, Ramirez has his own development track, and the old what-if is the kind of front-office debate that never really disappears when a player like Ohtani is involved. [Read more 🡒]