Brett Baty made the decision as difficult as he could.
He apparently did not do enough, though, to make the end result any different.
The Mets are making the most logical move in optioning the infielder back to Triple-A Syracuse, The Post confirmed Thursday, with Jeff McNeil set to join the roster beginning Friday in Washington.
Removing Baty from the roster means Luisangel Acuña, who has played excellent defense up the middle, who could become an option in center field and who has begun to hit, will remain in the majors.
So will José Azócar, a 28-year-old who can patrol each outfield spot, is 3-for-7 thus far and could not be optioned without being exposed to waivers.
Baty could be optioned and so he was, despite a strong finishing kick to his latest run in the major leagues.
A toolsy former first-round pick, Baty had not hit at the major league level in 2023 or 2024, then did not hit to begin this season.
But in his past eight games, he has hit .304, earned a .993 OPS and drilled two doubles, a triple and a loud home run. His last major league game for a while will be remembered for Baty demolishing a two-run shot off Phillies ace Zack Wheeler on Wednesday.
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It wasn’t enough because Baty would not have a clear role on a team with McNeil, who also is a lefty hitter and will play most days as he returns from an oblique strain.
The Mets wanted to keep Azócar, who has experience in center field (helpful in light of Jose Siri’s injury), and Acuña still can find a niche on a team with McNeil.
The righty hitter can serve as a complement to McNeil, or he could move back to the outfield. Regardless, he has been a valuable late-inning base runner and leads the Mets with six steals.
Which means the Mets are sending down a 25-year-old who finally might have been figuring out major league pitching.
On Wednesday, Baty felt encouraged by his recent at-bats — “I’ve just swung with more conviction,” he said — and acknowledged the roster uncertainty is “hard” to handle.
“It’s part of the business. It’s what we signed up for,” Baty said. “Can’t really do anything about it. Just gotta go out there and try to win games.”
If there is consolation for Baty, he showed more this stint than any previous stint, his bat looking promising and his glove capable at both second and third.
There are clear areas for him to work on at the lower level after striking out 19 times and walking just three times in 58 plate appearances, but the question will be whether Baty can continue to make strides while facing lesser competition.
“You learn how to hit in the big leagues by hitting in the big leagues,” co-hitting coach Jeremy Barnes said earlier this month.
Baty has a track record of crushing pitching away from the major leagues, and he owns a lifetime .899 OPS with 26 home runs in 94 games with Syracuse.
He also had been a spring training star, which helped him win a spot on the Opening Day roster.
He did not run with the job, but he had begun taking steps toward claiming it before the Mets encountered the roster crunch.
“He’s playing well. So is Acuña,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday. “… It’s a tough [decision] here.”
The catching decision was easier. Hayden Senger, who had impressed defensively and was not an automatic out offensively (going 5-for-28) will be optioned as Francisco Alvarez gets activated. Alvarez fractured the hamate bone in his left hand in early March, opening the door for Senger’s debut and a heavier workload for Luis Torrens, who also performed defensively and has posted a .675 OPS.