[Mick]

 Statistically, Rose was a better fielder, and could play more positions.

Oh c'mon Mick. On any team at any level the best fielders play SS and CF, which Mantle did. Rose played 3B, 2B, 1B, LF and RF — mainly because they wanted his bat somewhere in the lineup in front of Foster, Perez, Bench etc. Yes he was versatile but Mantle could have easily played any of those positions.  If Mantle had a worse fielding pct it would be because he got to balls Rose would never have even touched.

Agreed, a team wants to be strong up the middle, C, SS, and CF, although I would want a strong 3B and 2B as well. And you're right, Rose did have slightly better metrics and Mantle had slightly better range.

Rose did have a higher fielding percentage (.987 to .985).
Rose had two gold gloves, Mantle had one. Ironically, Rose played 1/3rd of his 1969 GG season in CF.
Rose had more than twice as many chances in his career (16k to 7k), nearly twice as many putouts...and twice as many errors. 5x as many DPs.

Rose was more versatile. He played five different positions at 589 or more games each and Mantle played just the one, with 276 games as a corner outfielder with a -7 Rtot in RF and a -6 Rtot in LF. Rose's figures were +52 in LF (prob his best position) and +3 in RF (where he won two gold gloves). Mantle also had negative Rtot at 1B (-14) and CF (-10). The OFs who won multiple gold gloves during Mantle's career included Al Kaline, Yaz, Jim Landis, Minny Minoso, and Jimmy Piersall. Other OFs who, like Mantle, won a single gold glove during Mantle's career included Vic Davalillo, Norm Siebern, Jackie Jensen, Tom Tresh, Tony Oliva, Tommie Agee, Mickey Stanley, and Roger Maris. Also included Paul Blair, who won his first of six during Mantle's career.

Was Mantle a better player than Rose? Of course, no dispute. But my main point is that Rose played almost 50% more games than Mantle and was more versatile in the field. Would I rather have Mantle for a game or a month or a season? Again, of course, no question. But that wasn't the question, the question was whether you'd want the #1 career leader in hits and games played and #6 in career runs scored, or the #18 career home run hitter and #29 in career runs scored. I don't know the answer, so I'll interject Willie Mays and take him over the other two...

[Mick]

 Statistically, Rose was a better fielder, and could play more positions.

Oh c'mon Mick. On any team at any level the best fielders play SS and CF, which Mantle did. Rose played 3B, 2B, 1B, LF and RF — mainly because they wanted his bat somewhere in the lineup in front of Foster, Perez, Bench etc. Yes he was versatile but Mantle could have easily played any of those positions.  If Mantle had a worse fielding pct it would be because he got to balls Rose would never have even touched.

Agreed, a team wants to be strong up the middle, C, SS, and CF, although I would want a strong 3B and 2B as well. And you're right, Rose did have slightly better metrics and Mantle had slightly better range.

Rose did have a higher fielding percentage (.987 to .985).
Rose had two gold gloves, Mantle had one. Ironically, Rose played 1/3rd of his 1969 GG season in CF.
Rose had more than twice as many chances in his career (16k to 7k), nearly twice as many putouts...and twice as many errors. 5x as many DPs.

Rose was more versatile. He played five different positions at 589 or more games each and Mantle played just the one, with 276 games as a corner outfielder with a -7 Rtot in RF and a -6 Rtot in LF. Rose's figures were +52 in LF (prob his best position) and +3 in RF (where he won two gold gloves). Mantle also had negative Rtot at 1B (-14) and CF (-10). The OFs who won multiple gold gloves during Mantle's career included Al Kaline, Yaz, Jim Landis, Minny Minoso, and Jimmy Piersall. Other OFs who, like Mantle, won a single gold glove during Mantle's career included Vic Davalillo, Norm Siebern, Jackie Jensen, Tom Tresh, Tony Oliva, Tommie Agee, Mickey Stanley, and Roger Maris. Also included Paul Blair, who won his first of six during Mantle's career.

Was Mantle a better player than Rose? Of course, no dispute. But my main point is that Rose played almost 50% more games than Mantle and was more versatile in the field. Would I rather have Mantle for a game or a month or a season? Again, of course, no question. But that wasn't the question, the question was whether you'd want the #1 career leader in hits and games played and #6 in career runs scored, or the #18 career home run hitter and #29 in career runs scored. I don't know the answer, so I'll interject Willie Mays and take him over the other two...