Why Mets should part ways with infielder Mark Vientos

New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos has been one of the worst players in the majors this season. However, he does not see it that way.

Vientos was asked on Tuesday how he feels he is adapting defensively to first. He said that he feels he has been "doing a pretty good job" at his new position, saying so three times in four sentences.

The results say differently. Vientos has been one of the worst defensive players in baseball according to Fangraphs, ranking 146th out of 161 qualified players in their DEF metric (a measure of defensive value relative to league average) and is the fifth worst player at first in the league. His four errors lead the National League, and he ranks 20th out of 22 qualified first basemen in outs above average.

Time for the New York Mets to end the Mark Vientos experiment

The Mets would likely accept Vientos' defensive limitations if he was producing offensively. Instead, he has been one of the worst players offensively as well, posting a .219/.254/.380 batting line with seven homers and nine doubles in his 197 plate appearances entering Wednesday. His -0.6 fWAR ranks 160th out of the 161 qualified hitters, ahead of only Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Marcell Ozuna.

The Mets have received a significant boost from young outfielders Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing. First baseman/outfielder Ryan Clifford is starting to heat up in Triple-A, recording at least one hit in nine of his last 13 games. If he can continue his hot stretch, Clifford could start knocking on the major league door in the coming weeks.

Unless Vientos can heat up offensively, it may not take much for Clifford to force the Mets' hand. They may not have much to lose by ending the Mark Vientos experiment as the season continues to slip away.