Who should replace Javier Báez?

The Mets’ rental couldn’t help them get to the postseason, and now they need to retool.

The Mets traded for Javier Báez, then a Chicago Cub, at the trade deadline this year to help maintain their stranglehold on the NL East, but what happened instead was a monumental collapse.

This was hardly Báez’s fault as he hit .299 with 9 home runs in just 44 games with the Mets, but regardless, he is now a free agent and could be looking to move on. A natural shortstop, Báez moved to second base with the Mets because they’re currently paying Francisco Lindor $341-million to play there for the next 10 years.

Báez could be looking to join a team that would want him to play shortstop even in a stacked shortstop free agent class that includes Trevor Story and Carlos Correa.

Javy Baez free agency: Who could Mets sign to replace him?

The former Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletic, Semien joined the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year deal. Despite being third in AL MVP voting in 2019 as a shortstop, Semien moved to second base to accommodate Bo Bichette, the Blue Jays’ shortstop of the future, and had the best year of his career.

With 45 home runs, it was a historic hitting season for a second baseman. Semien is a perfect fit for the Mets not just because the big market team will be able to pay what will likely be a big asking price, but because they struggled so much offensively this past year. They were only 25th in home runs and 27th in runs scored.

If they could get even decent offensive production, then their pitching staff stands half a chance of dragging them to the playoffs next year.