Ex-Blue Jays Slugger Could Be Intriguing Free Agent Option For Mets

Should the Mets sign the former Blue Jays slugger before Opening Day?

The New York Mets may not be done adding to the roster yet.

Although Opening Day is right around the corner, the Mets still have been in plenty of rumors lately. The biggest area of need for the Mets right now is at designated hitter.

New York plans to give Mark Vientos a bigger role in 2024, but the club still has been linked to a handful of sluggers, including six-time All-Star J.D. Martinez. With the amount of speculation that has popped up swirling around the Mets, it seems like they are at least open to another addition but maybe not one that completely would take at-bats away from Vientos.

If the Mets were to sign Martinez, he would be the club's everyday designated hitter. He doesn't provide defensive upside so Vientos wouldn't have much of an extended role.

New York could still add a veteran to add more depth, though. There still are some interesting options out there and one player who could make a lot of sense is former San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays slugger Brandon Belt.

Belt impressed last season with the Blue Jays and clubbed 19 home runs and drove in 43 runs in 103 games. He certainly would be less expensive than someone like Martinez and could be more of a depth option with an upside. 

If the Mets signed Belt, Vientos could still see plenty of at-bats with Belt being an option off the bench. He clubbed 29 home runs and drove in 59 runs in just 97 games with the Giants in 2021.

Belt is a 13-year big league veteran with an All-Star appearance under his belt as well as two World Series titles. He could help the club out in the middle of the lineup and also help mentor some of the team's young players.