The New York Mets have several offseason priorities that extend beyond just one focus. The bullpen remains unsteady, the rotation could benefit from a top-tier arm, and while the lineup has improved with Juan Soto as a centerpiece, it still lacks a true power hitter in the middle.
Soto’s role as the right fielder—and potentially a regular DH—reduces the urgency for one of the young prospects, like Ryan Clifford, to become a star hitter. Clifford, who can play both right field and first base, provides the Mets with some flexibility in how they might utilize him down the road.
However, if the Mets re-sign Him or make another significant free-agent acquisition for the lineup, Clifford could become a more likely trade piece in future deals.
The Mets can make one of their best prospects irrelevant with one big free agent signing
Clifford has a mix of intriguing traits and notable shortcomings, raising questions about his potential as an everyday big-league player. His performance in High-A Brooklyn over parts of two seasons is almost dismissible due to the challenges left-handed hitters face there. Instead, the focus shifts to his 405 plate appearances in Double-A Binghamton, where he posted a .231/.359/.457 slash line, hit 18 home runs, and drove in 58 runs. His 63 walks were impressive, but the 117 strikeouts continued a career-long trend. Clifford is a classic high-power, high-strikeout hitter who swings big and can crush the ball when he connects.
Physically, Clifford resembles a video game character with maxed-out power but little investment in contact. While his power potential is exciting, his inconsistency at the plate since joining the Mets is concerning. With the Astros, he showed more well-rounded hitting, batting .337 in Single-A and .271 in High-A in 2023. However, his average plummeted to .188 in 140 plate appearances in Brooklyn, a ballpark notoriously tough on left-handed hitters due to coastal winds.
Re-signing Pete Alonso doesn’t necessarily mean Clifford needs to be traded. It’s conceivable for Alonso, Juan Soto, and Clifford to rotate between first base, right field, and DH in the future.
Ultimately, Clifford is a unique prospect. He lacks the athleticism or five-tool potential that grabs attention immediately but remains a valuable piece. If the Mets make a significant trade, Clifford could be included, provided they have long-term stability at one of the corner infield positions.
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