Exclusive | Mets told Mark Vientos, Brett Baty to work out at first base in telling Pete Alonso sign

In a sign that they have begun preparing for life without Pete Alonso, the Mets told Brett Baty and Mark Vientos to begin working out at first base early in the new year, The Post has learned.Both players still remain viable at third base, but that Baty and Vientos were advised to begin a routine that included first base is an indicator of how the Mets plan to proceed unless there is a U-turn back to Alonso.Vientos met with Carlos Mendoza and infield coach Mike Sarbaugh, who gave him drills to work on at both first and third base.And Vientos has been doing so in South Florida, at times with the Mets St.

Lucie (Single-A) manager Luis Rivera.Baty was given instructions on working at first, second and third and has been doing so in Texas.The Mets currently are not planning to add significantly at either first base or third base with their attention more on trying to further upgrade the bullpen.

Part of the Mets’ thinking was that if they do not retain Alonso, they wanted to see if someone from the Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuna group could break out and prove themselves a cost-effective, youthful solution as Vientos did in 2024.If not, they always have until the July trade deadline to address an issue.Baty has not played a professional inning, minors or majors, at first base.But the Mets began to use him late last season in the minors at second base and believe he has adaptability.

Still, it is likely he would be seen as someone who gives Vientos a break at first, perhaps against a tough righty.Vientos is more likely to become the regular first baseman.He has played 70 minor league games at first (66 starts) and 14 in the majors (nine starts).“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,” Sarbaugh recently told The Post’s Mike Puma.With whatever knocks there have been on Alonso’s defense, he was experienced at first base.

The Mets would clea...