The Mets are changing course.
With the trade of closer David Robertson to the Marlins for two teenage prospects, the Mets have sent as clear a signal as any that they are focusing on next season and the years to come after that.
Despite their league-leading $348 million payroll, the Mets sit at 48-54, 17 games out of the division lead and seven games out of a wild card spot as their playoff hopes dwindle more every day.
So who are the prospects that the Mets acquired from Miami?
Marco Vargas
Marco Vargas, an 18-year-old lefty-hitting infielder from Mexico, headlines the deal as the highest-ranked prospect the Mets acquired.
Vargas is ranked No. 9 in the Marlins’ system via Fangraphs and No. 18 via MLB Pipeline, but scouts agree the young infielder has “special” potential with the bat.
“Vargas is (by a wide margin) the teenage hitter in this org most likely to become a big league regular down the line,” the Fangraphs scouting blurb reads.
“Vargas is an extremely advanced hitter for his age, showing the ability to recognize pitches, control the strike zone and employ the opposite field,” a description on MLB Pipeline says.
The Mexican infielder, who signed for $17,500 as a 17-year-old in 2022, has hit .283/.457/.442 with two home runs while walking more than he strikes out this year on the Marlins’ complex league team.
Though Vargas has played all around the diamond, starting games at second base, third base and shortstop, the Mets are hopeful he will stick as a middle-of-the-field player.
“With Vargas, a left-handed bat, middle of the diamond, shortstop profile right now,” GM Billy Eppler told reporters on Thursday. “Elite contact. Elite decision-making. He has above average exit velocity for the level. He’s young, that’s another good quality, and he’s really performing well at the level.”
He will land at No. 6 on the Mets’ prospect rankings, per MLB Pipeline.
Ronald Hernandez
Ronald Hernandez, a 19-year-old switch-hitting catching prospect, brings a unique skillset to the Mets’ system.
Hernandez struggled in the complex league at the plate last year but has hit for a .916 OPS this season with three home runs while he walks more than he strikes out, posting above-average exit velocity numbers as well.
The catcher signed out of Venezuela for an $850,000 bonus in 2021, labeled as a solid defensive catcher with room to grow with his bat.
Ranked No. 21 on the MLB Pipeline list of Mets prospects, his scouting report reads: “A steady receiver, Hernandez is agile behind the plate and does a nice job of blocking balls in the dirt… He works hard on his craft, diligently preparing for games, displaying leadership skills and communicating with pitchers in either English or Spanish.”
Scouts believe Hernandez has a “sound swing,” according to MLB Pipeline, and has the opportunity to blossom into a well-rounded hitter from both sides of the plate with the potential of hitting 12-15 homers once he learns how to harness his power.
The Mets are adding to a system that already possesses top-of-the-line catching talent, with 21-year-old Francisco Alvarez tearing up the big-league level and 2022 first-round pick Kevin Parada excelling at High-A.
Hernandez will place at No. 18 on the Mets’ MLB Pipeline rankings.
Robertson, a 38-year-old veteran who has been a consistent presence in the Mets’ bullpen this season in the absence of Edwin Diaz, holding a 2.05 ERA, was traded last season from the Cubs to the Phillies.
The Cubs acquired Ben Brown in the deal, a 23-year-old starting pitcher who was then ranked at No. 7 in the Phillies system but has since risen to No. 3 in Chicago’s farm system and has struck out 12.9 per nine innings in Triple-A this year.
