What could the Mets' Opening Day roster look like?

NEW YORK -- Another productive offseason has made a stark impact on the Mets¡¯ roster, with Juan Soto & Co. joining a returning core that made it within two wins of a pennant. Now, for president of baseball operations David Stearns, manager Carlos Mendoza and their staffs, comes the hard part: figuring out whom to include on the Opening Day roster.

As always, spring injuries and insights will change the projection below. But at the outset of camp, here¡¯s a reasonable guess at what the 26-man roster might look like on March 27.

Catcher (2): Francisco Alvarez, Luis Torrens
Alvarez is the clear starter -- a 23-year-old with breakout potential. But Torrens was a revelation serving as Alvarez¡¯s primary backup from early June through the end of last season; he¡¯ll garner plenty of time behind the plate as well, playing once or twice per week.

First basemen (1): Pete Alonso
The Mets¡¯ corner infield situation looked a whole lot messier until Alonso re-signed around a week before the start of Spring Training. Fresh off a season in which he appeared in every game, Alonso will reprise his role as the starter. His long history of durability indicates he shouldn¡¯t need much help at the position.

Second basemen (2): Jeff McNeil, Nick Madrigal
While McNeil has played regularly in the outfield every year since his rookie campaign, the Mets may not need him to do so anymore. Suddenly stacked out there, the team has far more of a need for McNeil at second base.

Of greater issue is who might back him up. With no room to play Luisangel Acu?a on a regular basis, Mets officials might prefer him to begin the season back in the Minors. That would open a bench spot for Madrigal or Jared Young, with the right-handed Madrigal making a bit more sense as a complement to McNeil. Such an alignment would leave Francisco Lindor as the only true shortstop on the roster, but that¡¯s a gamble this front office has previously shown it¡¯s willing to take.

Shortstop (1): Francisco Lindor
No surprises here, as Lindor will reprise his role at shortstop and -- if he can maintain his health -- play pretty much every inning of every game. Moving on.

Third basemen (1): Mark Vientos
So long as Vientos even resembles the player he was a year ago, he¡¯ll play nearly every day at third base. The 25-year-old Vientos is just entering his physical prime and coming off a season in which he posted an .838 OPS.

Outfielders (6): Juan Soto, Brandon Nimmo, Tyrone Taylor, Jose Siri, Jesse Winker, Starling Marte
Soto will start most days in right, with Nimmo in left and a combination of Taylor and Siri in center. Winker figures to receive plenty of work at designated hitter, as does Marte. Both are outfielders by trade and could see time in the corners, but they¡¯re more likely ticketed for a DH platoon.

Starting pitchers (6): Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Griffin Canning
The Mets figure to use a six-man rotation more often than not, especially with continued uncertainty surrounding Senga¡¯s health. The first four names here are rotation locks. Also in the mix are Paul Blackburn and Tylor Megill, creating some potentially difficult camp decisions. While Megill and Peterson have Minor League options remaining, Blackburn and Canning have enough service time to decline such an assignment. It¡¯s a situation to monitor throughout March.

Relief pitchers (7): Edwin D¨ªaz, A.J. Minter, Ryne Stanek, Reed Garrett, Jos¨¦ Butt¨®, Paul Blackburn, Danny Young
D¨ªaz, Minter and Stanek will be Mendoza¡¯s top three relievers to open the season, most likely followed by Garrett -- though the Mets may need to seriously consider sending Garrett to the Minors, simply because he has an accessible Minor League option. Sometimes, these decisions at the margins aren¡¯t fair.

After that is anyone¡¯s guess. Dedniel N¨²?ez turned heads last season but hasn¡¯t pitched since August due to a strained right flexor tendon. He, like Garrett, can be optioned. Butt¨®, Young, Blackburn and Reid-Foley cannot, giving them a small but notable edge heading into camp. Still, that group will face plenty of competition. In addition to the names listed above, Huascar Brazob¨¢n, Kevin Herget, Austin Warren, Tyler Zuber, G¨¦nesis Cabrera, Anthony Gose, Oliver Ortega, Rico Garc¨ªa and others highlight a crowded spring roster. Any number of arms could make a push to be included in the Opening Day bullpen.