As the New York Mets head into their offseason, decisions await regarding both the free agents and those still under team control. Notably, Brett Baty, the third baseman finding himself further down the pecking order behind Mark Vientos, is likely to stir up trade conversations.

Baty’s 2024 season was more about ups and downs than breakthroughs, showing promise as a defender but offering little impact offensively. With a batting line of .229/.306/.327, and only 3 doubles and 4 home runs in 171 plate appearances, it’s clear this wasn’t the breakout year many anticipated.

Even his time in Triple-A Syracuse was less than stellar, batting .252/.349/.504 over 269 plate appearances. Watching the Mets excel without him from the sidelines possibly didn’t help his cause either.

So, what should the Mets do about Brett Baty? It really hinges on what offers they might receive.

Selling low doesn’t make much sense, given his age; he’s just 24, turning 25 in November. It’s a crucible moment for Baty—an age where potential either transforms into performance or simply fades away.

Consecutive seasons of missed opportunities leading to demotions have certainly clouded his prospects with the team.

Perhaps holding onto Baty until there’s clarity on Pete Alonso’s future could be a prudent move. If Alonso exits, shifting Vientos to first base and utilizing Baty at third might be plausible, though not without its challenges.

Baty would require support, potentially from Vientos seeing continued action at third, or a healthy Ronny Mauricio, assuming he isn’t traded given the crowded infield competition. Then there’s Luisangel Acuna, whose performance this year might make him a rising contender for a starting role.

Yet, time is running thin. The Mets can’t afford to wait indefinitely for Baty to emerge as a hitter.

Unlike Francisco Alvarez, who plays a pivotal role at catcher, enhancing the pitching staff’s performance, Baty’s contributions are harder to justify when his bat remains silent. Some might argue Baty’s trade value has hit rock bottom.

However, he retains a minor league option—a small window for potential redemption that another team might be willing to exploit.

Trading young players always carries inherent risk. For Baty, the ideal scenario might be a trade package with a team that can be patient with his development. While the Mets haven’t executed blockbuster trades under David Stearns, this offseason could be the turning point.

At the core, there aren’t compelling reasons to keep Baty if he’s not delivering on Opening Day expectations at third base. The choice becomes one of holding on with the hope he won’t be a bust or cutting losses and seeing what he could net in the trade market.