The Mets are reportedly picking up Daniel Vogelbach’s $1.5MM club option for the 2023 season, per Jon Heyman of the NY Post.
Acquired in a midseason trade from the Pirates, Vogelbach slashed a strong .255/.393/.436 in New York to finish his 2022 season with a collective .238/.360/.433 line with 18 homers across the two teams. Interestingly, Vogelbach spent the 2022 season as full-time DH, logging only five innings at first base after playing over 400 innings at the corner infield position in 2021.
After a breakout year in 2019 with Seattle where he hit .208/.341/.439 with 30 homers and earned a trip to the All-Star game, Vogelbach has bounced around the league, spending time with the Blue Jays, Brewers, Pirates, and now the Mets. He has largely become a platoon player, hitting .261/.382/.497 against right-handed pitchers in 2022, compared to .139/.262/.153 against lefties.
Vogelbach, who has one more arbitration-eligible season after 2023, may become a trade candidate for the Mets, who currently have three other 1B/DH options on their 40-Man Roster in Darin Ruf, Dominic Smith, and starter Pete Alonso. However, out of the trio of backups, Vogelbach had the strongest 2022 season and GM Billy Eppler might opt to keep him as a left-handed bench bat.
TradeAcuna
Vogalbach looks like a type of guy who is drinking multiple pairs of 6-pack beers at the moment
toycannon
He looks like he has gained 50 pounds since he left the Mariners.
padam
What makes you think it’s just 50? He can’t even follow through on his swing anymore. He tomahawks at pitches. Still worth it at 1.5M.
RyanD44
I don’t know how a guy making the $ he’s making is as big as he is. Hire a chef, you have trainers, hire someone to follow you around and slap your hand every time you grab a doughnut or cheeseburger. I know food can be an addiction, but there’s plenty of ways to get help. Not only could he become a much better player, he’d live a lot longer if he took care of himself. I hope he figures it out. Hate to see anyone that overweight.
BeansforJesus
And he gained 150lbs since he played the “Babe Ruth kid” in the sandlot scene of Angels in the Outfield.
Bart Harley Jarvis
He’s certainly a full-figured gal.
Rsox
Brings back memories of “The Hamhock” Bob Hamelin
BeansforJesus
Move over PAWGs. PADV is coming through.
Yankeesforever
is that to be paid in dollars or happy meals?
Yanks2
LOL
SonnySteele
By MLB standards he works cheap. And he gives hope to overweight men all over the country who fantasize about playing professional baseball.
BeansforJesus
I would think the opposite. Him playing professional sports shows them that talent can take you far.
Really drives home the point that their physique isn’t the problem, it’s the fact they are devoid of athletic talent.
bjhaas1977
Good move welcome back. He wants to win. He’s always been in the cellar.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Love watching Ralph Kramden run the bases…
bigcat20
He needs to drop 30lbs to play this game
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
All he has to do is drop his wallet…
Yanks2
Vogelbach is a decent lefty power bat in any line up. Regardless of his weight he’s still a depth piece to any team’s offense
Jarred Kelenic's Beer Can
No he doesn’t. He’s putting up solid stats as is.
metslvt17
Does he? Seems like he just got offered another contract to play now lol
jim stem
I guess the Mets feel Vientos and Baty are still a year away?
rct
As a result of this move? Vogelbach is the DH against RHP. Vientos could DH against lefties and fill in around the field when needed. Baty will be with the club for sure, splitting time with Escobar.
Cosmo2
I think this more of the last nail in the coffin for Dom Smith
dugmet
Nothing to do with Baty or Vientos. At $1.5m he is a very affordable commodity — and tradable.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
I will raise you one Reyes Moronta
Monkey’s Uncle
I don’t want to try and raise Moronta, I already have a bad back.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
That one deserves a belly laugh
Yanks2
Mike Ford 2.0
aromaa
Huge News
Bart Harley Jarvis
Bigly!
yetipro
Bottom of the barrel. A beer barrel.
Jarred Kelenic's Beer Can
Pretty solid move by the Mets. Cheap power and OBP is always useful.
flyingblindsquirrel
Mets need to try to swing a trade for Alejandro Kirk; they’d have the best offensive line in the NL.
User 3663041837
Get Tellez also for guard.
Robrock30
LOL Mets. Vogey will be back as the LH DH.
YankeesBleacherCreature
A LHH whom slashed .261/.382/.497 against RHP with 18 HRs in 377 PAs? $1.5M is a helluva bargain.
Rsox
Smith and/or Ruf probably get traded this winter as i can’t see the Mets keeping all three on the 40 man roster, let alone the 26 man MLB roster
BPax
Glad for the Vogey. When he was here in Seattle, he became a fan favorite. I’ve rooted for him everywhere he’s gone.
Edp007
Even in TO he made a great impression in a short stay.
NYMetsFanatic
$1.5M to Cohen is what $150 is to us. It’s barely mentionable, really. I suspect that we wind up sending him somewhere else in a trade, anyway.
YankeesBleacherCreature
That’s not even proper perspective relative to Cohen’s net worth. It’s more like $1.50 and what he would make in interest in a regular savings account in an hour. He never will be checking his balance.
angt222
For 1 yr/$1.5M, yeah why not?
Edp007
Costs almost as much to buy a Maybach as a Vogelbach , Cohen probably has both lol
longines64
Lady , I’m not an athlete, I’m a ball player…
SonnySteele
Jon Kruk said that, right?
bravesfan
1.5 mil.. yea… that’s fine. even for a player as fat and lazy as him.
Tomas7
A great guy for the clubhouse and can hit, let him drink his beers.
Silas
Way to go “Batso”!
nitnontu
He was a fan favorite and hit well at times when he was with Milwaukee. One of the few players that made us typical Brewer fans not self conscious about our weight!
nitnontu
Was replaced by the “svelte” Rowdy Tellez!