Credit: AP Photo

The San Diego Padres and the New York Mets match up well in a potential trade for infielder Mark Vientos. 

New York infielder Mark Vientos could find himself on the trade block after the Mets’ infield overhaul.

The Mets added Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Jorge Polanco to man the three infield spots around shortstop Francisco Lindor. With the additions of these veterans, they find themselves with a plethora of young infield options without places to play.

The San Diego Padres fit as a potential trade partner with the Mets for a few of them, but Vientos should be their primary target to play first base for the future.

The Mets infielder is 26 years old and earning just a bit over the league minimum as a pre-arbitration player. His youth and inexpensive contract are two very attractive things for the Padres as they try and fill out their 2026 roster. The lack of a first baseman/DH type for the Padres is well documented, and if they can acquire Vientos and develop him as a true first baseman. They may be able to find a cornerstone piece.

Vientos is coming off a down season where he disappointed, a year removed from an .838 OPS in 2024 and a career high 27 home runs.

The infielder’s 2024 season saw him slug at a much higher clip and dominate specifically against fastballs. Some of the underlying metrics expected him to have fewer home runs in 2024 and did speak to some luck; regression in 2025 was expected. The amount of regression that occurred in 2025 was more than what most expected, but that does seem to be attributed to the Mets’ downfall throughout the season as well. 

Vientos recorded a 97 OPS+ in 2025, which is just under league average, but there is reason to believe he is due for some positive regression this time around.

In 2025, Vientos’ walk and barrel percentages did go down, but that also came with a 5% drop in his strikeout rate as well. His strikeout issues have always been a weak spot for the infielder, but dropping it from around 30% to under 25% could signify development in him being able to control the strike zone.

The Padres employed a contact-heavy approach the last few years, and although it may change under new hitting coach Steven Souza Jr., organizationally, Vientos could benefit from this approach. One of the biggest ways he could help the Padres is his specialty against left-handed pitching. Vientos’ .884 OPS in 2024 against southpaws would be a game-changer for the Padres, but even his .740 clip in 2025 would be a big help.

Mark Vientos has the talent to take every day at-bats either at first base or designated hitter, but even if he settles down as a platoon piece, that is something that was missing from the Padres team and was much needed. San Diego could also provide a new environment for Mark Vientos that can aid in his development, as he is just entering what is typically a baseball player’s prime.

The Mets had lots of reports of clubhouse issues that they seem to be addressing this offseason. Letting go of outfielder Brandon Nimmo and utility player Jeff McNeil, who are rumored to have been at odds with unofficial team captain Francisco Lindor, is a big way that the team addressed this issue for next season and beyond.

The addition of Marcus Semien, a very well-respected MLB veteran and a noted positive clubhouse presence, should be a big help in that manner. The Padres clubhouse seems to be a much closer group of players with established veterans throughout for Vientos to learn from. The Dominican and Nicaraguan player has several players that he can learn from in Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, and players that he can resonate with, like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill. The pressure in New York to develop as a former top prospect for the Mets would not follow him to San Diego. He would have a role to play and does not need to lead the team. 

He would need to learn a new position, mostly full-time, with the option to supplant Machado on certain days at third base. In his short amount of opportunities, Vientos has been a far better defender at first base, and with full-time reps, he could develop in that spot. 

The trade cost to acquire Vientos is a bit unknown because he has had such extremes in his career, with only one very strong year.

Other players like Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña are players that the Padres could be interested in acquiring as well to round out their depth.

For Vientos, a trade involving relief prospect Francis Peña, outfield prospect Kavares Tears, and either outfielder Tirso Ornelas or a lower-level pitching prospect could be something that intrigues the Mets. This allows the Mets to develop some new prospects and add to what is already a plethora of young players they can trade to gain new assets.

The Padres would gain a player whom they can develop further and turn into another cornerstone piece who will not be a free agent until 2030. His power potential and the impact bat that he has shown is something the Padres may want as they chase their first World Series championship.

30

East Coast Based

Dominican

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