Where might prospects Mauricio, Vientos fit into Mets' plans?

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Ronny Mauricio is a shortstop. That also happens to be the position of Francisco Lindor, who is under guaranteed contract for nine more seasons.

Mark Vientos is a third baseman. That also happens to be the position of Eduardo Escobar, a respected veteran on an eight-figure deal, and Brett Baty, the Mets' blue-chip prospect who clubbed a home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League-opening 4-2 loss to the Astros.

On the surface, there is no clear path for either Mauricio, the Mets’ sixth-ranked prospect a season ago per MLB Pipeline, or Vientos, who ranks seventh on the list, to man their natural positions long term in Queens. But after briefly experimenting with both players elsewhere, the Mets are now committed -- at least in the short term -- to keeping them at their normal defensive homes.

“You make a guy play his way off center field. You make him play his way off shortstop,” manager Buck Showalter explained, speaking more generally about any prospect. “Who knows what your situation in your club looks like in a year or two?”

A delicate balance is at play here, as Mets officials determine whether Mauricio and Vientos can still be part of their organization’s future, or if they would be better utilized as trade fodder. Mauricio would theoretically lose market value if the Mets made him a full-time second baseman, third baseman or center fielder, since those positions are easier to play. Lindor’s presence, however, means Mauricio is more likely to help the Mets at other positions if he stays in New York.

It’s a fluid situation. Over the past two seasons, with an eye toward the future, the Mets began flirting with positional changes for Mauricio, Vientos and even Baty, who has appeared in 29 Minor League games in left field. Vientos received reps in left field and first base (the latter a relatively natural position for him, and one he’s still playing). Mauricio appeared at second and third base during his recent run in the Dominican Winter League and, at one point, team officials even spoke internally about trying him in center.

“I can play any position,” Mauricio said. “That’s not hard to play outfield, I think. It’s harder to play shortstop.”

“It’s whatever position they want me to be,” Vientos agreed.

For now, the Mets are no longer interested in experimenting. This spring, Vientos will play exclusively at the corners, with Baty manning third base and Mauricio at short. Acknowledging the value of such consistency, Mauricio said: “Always, I’ve played shortstop. That’s my position. I’m going to start there. I’m the next Lindor. So if something happens, I am here.”

But what if nothing happens? What if Lindor remains an All-Star throughout his prime and Baty develops into a stabilizing force at third base? What then becomes of Mauricio and Vientos?

“I rely on our scouting department. I rely on our analytics department, and I rely on our coordinators,” general manager Billy Eppler said of potential future position changes. “We’ve had some conversations on that, and we’ll just keep getting updates throughout the season.”