Mets have faith in Mark Vientos filling potential Pete Alonso void at first base

Mark Vientos hasn’t dazzled in his limited exposure to first base, but there is a measure of confidence within the organization he can handle the position if needed. The Mets’ decision in recent days to move away from a reunion with Pete Alonso, after the slugging first baseman rejected the team’s last offer — a three-year deal in the $68 million to $70 million range, according to The Post’s Joel Sherman — has left Vientos as a prime candidate for a move across the infield this season. Vientos’ first base experience includes 14 games in the major leagues and 70 in the minors. “He wasn’t very good at first base,” a scout from a National League team said Friday.“But I thought he had a chance to be better there than at third.” Vientos emerged as the Mets’ everyday third baseman last season, and the Statcast numbers were underwhelming defensively: He was minus-seven in outs above average, which placed him in MLB’s sixth percentile for range.

Vientos compensated somewhat with arm strength that placed him in the 62nd percentile. But Vientos’ blemishes were easy to dismiss because he largely succeeded in making the routine play and his bat provided heft in a lineup that needed it. “I haven’t seen him a lot at first base, but Mark puts a lot of work in so I think wherever he is and wherever he ends up, I think he will be just fine,” Mets infield coach Mike Sarbaugh told The Post. “Last season helped build confidence with him that, ‘Hey, I am able to do this’ — that was the first time he had ever played third on an everyday basis.It was kind of unchartered water for him from the standpoint of doing it on a daily basis, and he handled it and I think that is only going to make him better moving forward.” Vientos, according to Sarbaugh, has continued to work out at third base this winter.

If needed, his transformation into a regular first baseman would occur during spring training. Sarbaugh recently spent a day in Orlando...