PORT ST. LUCIE — Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns remains committed to giving his young players an opportunity, but is also walking the fine line of still looking to improve this year’s roster with proven commodities.
Exhibit A was J.D. Davis, who on Friday agreed to a one-year deal with Oakland worth $2.5 million with another $1 million possible through incentives, an industry source confirmed.
The Mets pursued the free-agent third baseman as a possible hedge against Brett Baty or Mark Vientos struggling in regular roles for the club.
But several hours before word of Davis’ deal with the Athletics surfaced — the former Mets third baseman chose the A’s largely because of playing time opportunities, The Post’s Joel Sherman reported — Stearns also reaffirmed his vision for this season.
“I still think it’s important for us to give young players who have consistently succeeded at the minor league level chances to contribute in the major leagues,” Stearns said. “I think that’s important. Those two guys [Baty and Vientos] fall into that category.
“I have also been consistent that it needs to happen over the course of the year. It may not need to happen exactly on Opening Day.”
Another J.D. — Martinez — remains available as a potential full-time DH option.
But Martinez’s addition would perhaps squeeze Vientos from the mix significantly.
Stearns said there’s constant “tension” between the objectives of trying to improve the team and remaining committed to giving the younger players a chance.
“We’re going to do our best to balance it and ensure that we can put a competitive team, a good team on the field right now,” Stearns said. “And also build that sustainable success long term that we’re seeking.”
Stearns praised Baty and Vientos for the work they have put in since last season concluded at improving defensively.
Vientos, whose main tool is power, also potentially figures into the DH equation.
From the left side, the Mets have DJ Stewart and Ji Man Choi as options.
“That is one of the questions we are going to continue to answer here over the next couple of weeks,” Stearns said, when asked about the DH spot. “It could be our rotation through some of our regulars. It could be more geared toward one of the bat-first players who are here in camp, but I don’t think we have an answer to that right now.”
The Mets also still have two bullpen spots open and haven’t yet officially selected a starter among Tylor Megill and Jose Butto to fill Kodai Senga’s spot in the rotation to begin the season.
Senga won’t pitch until at least early May after incurring a shoulder strain early in camp.
Stearns said that spring training performance is only one factor that will guide decisions.
“We’re not trying to look at the overarching performance,” Stearns said. “We are trying to look at the end of result and look at the process that is leading to that and that process informs these decisions in the context of our roster and … who has [minor league] options and who doesn’t. Who might be the right fit at the front end of the season. There are a lot of different factors and in some of these spring training performance plays a little bit of it, but certainly not the entirety.”
Stearns cited team culture as the aspect of camp with which he’s been most pleased.
“That’s what you are looking to build in spring training is an environment where players want to come to the field every day,” Stearns said. “An environment where this is an enjoyable place for everyone to work productively to get better and I think our coaching staff has done a tremendous job building that.”
