SAN DIEGO — With his name often popping up in trade rumors, Mark Vientos’ stretch run might have arrived.
To begin trade-deadline week, Vientos played as if he does not want to be traded.
With the Mets’ front office weighing what to do with a crowded and young infield group that includes Vientos, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio before Thursday’s deadline, Vientos responded with the type of night that reminded of his breakout last year.
After getting robbed of one home run by leaping right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., Vientos blasted his next shot to right a few feet deeper, good for a grand slam in the Mets’ eventual 7-6, series-opening loss to the Padres at Petco Park on Monday.
“It was really good to see Mark Vientos having the type of game he had today,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “For him to get that big one right there, that was very encouraging.”
Vientos — who crushed 27 home runs in 111 games in a star-turn of a 2024 season before going off during a huge postseason — had entered play in a 23-game homerless drought.
That changed not in the fourth inning — when Tatis timed his jump perfectly and brought back what would have been a two-run homer — but in the fifth, when the Padres elected to walk Jeff McNeil to load the bases.
And just as the Dodgers had intentionally walked Francisco Lindor to load the bases for Vientos in Game 2 of the NLCS last year, Vientos made them pay.
“I’m happy I get put into those situations,” said Vientos, whose opposite-field slam off Dylan Cease was just his seventh homer in 74 games this year.
The 25-year-old has never lacked confidence, but his manager referred to Vientos as “not happy” with his own ups and downs of the season thus far.
“But also understanding that he’s got an opportunity,” Mendoza said before the game. “When he’s in the lineup, he can help us win baseball games. But he continues to work, he continues to grind, continues to make adjustments.
“He’s a really good player, and we’re going to need him.”
Because of Vientos’ power, prospect pedigree and breakout season last year, there would be interest on the trade market if the club dangles Vientos. Because he cannot be optioned to Triple-A Syracuse and because he is not a strong defender — and a third baseman, where both Baty and Mauricio have looked stronger — there is a question of where he fits on the team.
But if his bat is indeed coming around, he could find himself both in the lineup frequently, as DH or third baseman, and could find himself remaining with the Mets.
“I’m just doubling down on my approach and what I want at the plate and staying convicted to it,” Vientos said.
The Mets are still not sure about the next step for Paul Blackburn, who threw 87 pitches Sunday while allowing one run in 6 ⅓ innings with Triple-A Syracuse.
The righty, who has been sidelined since June 28 with a right shoulder impingement, was traveling Monday and set to return to Citi Field to meet with trainers on Tuesday.
“We’ll talk to him, we’ll see where he’s at, how he’s feeling,” Mendoza said of Blackburn, who projects as rotation depth in a rotation that is filled at the moment. “And then we got to make a decision.”
Tylor Megill threw a bullpen session Sunday and “came out fine,” Mendoza said.
Megill, out with a right elbow sprain, will need one more session before before he starts facing batters.
Jose Iglesias talked with and hugged many Mets, including Edwin Diaz, Francisco Alvarez, Sean Manaea and Brandon Nimmo, on the field before the game against his former team.
