PHILADELPHIA — By demoting young catcher Francisco Alvarez on Sunday, the New York Mets showed that if there are places where they can improve, they will look to address them, even if it means making an uncomfortable decision.

With the trade deadline less than six weeks away, the Mets also might need to address an area at which they seemingly have a surplus of young players — the infield.

New York always wants to allow room for its young players, but none of its less-accomplished infielders have run with the opportunity for playing time, while 25-year-old third baseman Mark Vientos has lingered on the injured list.

Pitching may end up being the priority, but it is not out of the question for the Mets to explore infield help, too.

At the very least, the Mets are probably evaluating the situation. It’s up to the Mets’ young players to save them from making a move.

This isn’t so much about Vientos, who was off to a lackluster start (.678 OPS through 208 plate appearances), but broke out in 2024 with 27 home runs in the regular season, plus five more in the playoffs. He hasn’t shown much improvement defensively at third base, but deserves time to get going with his bat.

This is about Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Luisangel Acuña. The respective development of all three would benefit from steady playing time. Given their collective lack of production, it’s hard to say that such time should continue much longer in the major leagues.

Vientos strained his right hamstring on June 2. In that game and on June 1, he appeared as the designated hitter. That means Baty and Mauricio have shared the starts at third base throughout this month.

Mark Vientos had a breakout 2024 season, particularly in the postseason, where he clubbed five homers. (Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)

Entering Sunday, the Mets’ offensive production from the third-base position in June ranks as MLB’s worst in multiple categories. Their third basemen this month are last in OPS (.408), on-base percentage (.169) and batting average (.113).

Even in a backup capacity, that’s just not at all helpful.

The expectation is for Vientos to return at some point this upcoming week. Before the Mets’ 7-1 loss to the Phillies on Sunday night, manager Carlos Mendoza was noncommittal on whether Vientos would play a couple more games in Triple A.

It’s unclear who exactly the Mets would jettison to Triple A once Vientos is ready, but it also wouldn’t be shocking if there were multiple moves in the not-so-distant future.

Mauricio, who has also seen time at second base and designated hitter, owns a .561 OPS through 15 games with the Mets. He has struck out 33.3 percent of the time. After missing all of 2024 because of knee surgery, Mauricio needs to be in a situation where he is playing every day for development purposes.

Acuña went 0-for-3 in his first start in a week on Sunday. It was just his third start in a month. The Mets, however, have utilized his speed and defense off the bench. Still, in 76 plate appearances since May 1, he is 14-for-72 (.194) with a .576 OPS.

Baty, who also plays second base, has received the most plate appearances (182) of the trio and owns the best results (.658 OPS, eight home runs). But his production is inconsistent. After a torrid May, his numbers in June are worse than they were in April. So far this month, he is 6-for-52 (.115 batting average) with a .420 OPS. Baty’s defense is better this season. That adds value. Plus, Baty, who will be out of minor-league options after this season, bats from the left side, which gives the Mets some added flexibility if they want to use Vientos at DH some days.

Still, would the Mets be better served with more of a veteran presence, even in a backup role or for additional depth? It’s another call that the Mets may have to wrestle with.

Similar to the Alvarez situation, in the case of their infield, the Mets would prefer for their young players to offer insurance. But midway through a season in which the Mets (46-32), losers of eight of their nine games, hold aspirations of a deep playoff run, those young players haven’t yet proven that they can be fully counted on.

(Top photo of Ronny Mauricio: Edward M. Pio Roda / Getty Images)