Mets' Brett Baty happy to be on taxi squad after disappointing season
The Mets' Brett Baty walks back to the dugout after striking out in the sixth inning of a game against the Guardians on Monday, May 20, 2024, in Cleveland. Credit: AP/Sue Ogrocki
MILWAUKEE — Nearing the end of a disappointing season, Brett Baty is where he wants to be — almost.
He is with the Mets for the postseason but only as a member of the taxi squad, the extra players who get to hang around, work out, watch the game in the dugout and stand by in case the team needs extras along the way. They didn’t put him on the roster for the Wild Card Series, which began Tuesday, but they could add him for a future series.
That is something of a consolation prize for Baty, who began 2024 as the Mets’ starting third baseman. He was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse at the end of May, worked for months to learn second base, appeared to line up for a September callup and broke his finger in late August.
“It was brutal timing,” the former top prospect said.
Those are the circumstances that have thrust Baty, still only 24, into an uncertain phase of his career. He twice has been given the third-base gig and twice struggled enough to lose it. Players don’t always get third tries. This offseason and 2025 may well shape the rest of Baty’s career.
“I’m sure after the season’s over, whenever it may be, I’ll sit down with myself and also have some conversations with people here about my future, where they see me, where they see the team,” Baty said. “And from those conversations then get a better grasp of what I need to work on in the offseason.”
For now, though, Baty is happy to be here. It was possible — even probable — at the time of the injury that his fractured left index finger could have ended his season. He was determined to make sure that wasn’t the case. After a few games with Syracuse and extra time at the Mets’ stay-ready camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Baty described himself as “fully back to normal.”
“From that point (of getting hurt) on, it was just like, I’m going to bust my butt even more to try to be healthy enough to help the team win a World Series,” he said.
Mark Vientos, Baty’s friend and third-base replacement, has excelled since winning that role, batting .266 with an .838 OPS, 27 home runs and 71 RBIs.
“Oh my gosh. Amazing,” Baty said. “I couldn’t be happier for the guy. Like I said in spring training, one of my best homies on the team. Kind of came up together. All the success, I’m super thrilled for him. He’s done amazing. Hopefully he’s gonna help us win a World Series.”
Personnel news
The Mets’ roster for the first round included one surprise: righthander Max Kranick.
An offseason waiver claim, Kranick spent the entire season with Triple-A Syracuse. After the Mets converted him to reliever in mid-May, he had a 3.70 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Manager Carlos Mendoza reported that his fastball was up to 98 mph.
Kranick, a 27-year-old who grew up a Mets fan, said he was “definitely surprised by super excited” to get called up. He has not appeared in the majors since 2022 with the Pirates.
“I’m definitely more excited than I’m showing,” he said. “But, you know, same game. Go out there, fill it up and continue to do what I’m doing. That’s what Mendy just said to me. Keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t overthrow. What you’re doing is plenty. Continue on with that.”
The Mets designated infielder Eddy Alvarez for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for Kranick. He was not eligible for the postseason because he joined the organization after Sept. 1.
They left Tylor Megill off the roster, an expected move because he pitched Monday and would not be available these three days.
Winker ailing
Jesse Winker was in the Mets’ Game 1 lineup after sitting out the final four games of the regular season with a back issue. It “locked up” on him Friday, Mendoza said.
Winker emphasized that it is not related to a herniated disc issue he addressed in years past. An MRI over the weekend showed “nothing major,” according to Mendoza.
“I’m not speaking on what it is. It’s very minor,” Winker said. “It’s something that is like a back spasm. It was a muscle spasm. Structurally, I’m great.”
Extra bases
Sean Manaea will start Game 2 for the Mets on Wednesday . . . Kodai Senga threw 25 pitches to minor-league hitters Monday. Mendoza indicated it’s not clear whether he could be an option for the NLDS . . . Brandon Nimmo said the Mets snapped back into business mode by the time they got on the plane in Atlanta on Monday night, in part because they had to decide on playoff shares, cash bonuses for players and various team staff. “You can't be drunk and handing that stuff out,” he said. “Otherwise somebody's going to get way too much and somebody's not going to get enough.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
