WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Nick Madrigal¡¯s fractured left shoulder, which will knock him out for at least the first two months of the season, doesn¡¯t change the fact that the Mets need a backup shortstop. Madrigal had fit the profile well as a defensive-minded player with a history of Major League success.
His absence leaves Donovan Walton as a prime candidate to make the team. Almost immediately after the World Series ended, Mets officials contacted Walton in hopes of signing him to a Minor League contract. That gumption -- along with the fact that several of Walton¡¯s acquaintances had told him glowing things about the organization, prompted him to agree to terms in mid-November.
There was always a chance the Mets would ask Walton to break camp at Triple-A Syracuse. But now, Madrigal¡¯s injury has greatly enhanced Walton's odds of making the MLB roster.
¡°I know I can play this game and play defensively and move the bat,¡± Walton said.
Growing up in Oklahoma, Walton was part of a baseball family. His father, Rob, was an Orioles farmhand who later became the head coach at Oral Roberts, where he managed a young Jeremy Hefner -- now the Mets¡¯ pitching coach. The elder Walton has since become the pitching coach at Oklahoma State under Josh Holliday -- brother of Matt and uncle of Jackson.
¡°I grew up in the locker room,¡± Donovan Walton said. ¡°It¡¯s kind of like all I know. This is where I¡¯m comfortable. I¡¯m comfortable in the baseball locker room, and I¡¯m excited each chance I get to put on the uniform.¡±
In Mets camp, Walton is one of several candidates for one open bench spot, along with Luisangel Acu?a, Luis De Los Santos, Brett Baty and Jared Young. But how realistic are the others? Acu?a is 22 with a spotty track record in the upper Minors, which could prompt the Mets to start him out back at Syracuse. Young is more of a corner infielder for a team that values the idea of a shortstop (if for no other reason than to ensure Francisco Lindor some rest every now and then). Baty has no professional experience at that position, even if the Mets hope to get him some later this spring.
That leaves Walton and De Los Santos -- the latter an offseason waiver claim the Mets subsequently outrighted off their 40-man roster. Though neither player features a rich offensive history, Walton has a .795 career OPS in the Minors compared to De Los Santos¡¯ .697 mark. He also boasts more Major League experience, with 70 games over the past six seasons for the Mariners and Giants. And he¡¯s a left-handed hitter -- potentially the only one on New York¡¯s bench.
For all those reasons, Walton profiles as a sensical candidate to make the team. But others could still push for a roster spot, with Baty of particular intrigue if he¡¯s able to play some shortstop -- and play it adequately -- this spring.
Until then, Walton -- a self-described baseball rat -- will continue trying to show what he can do.
¡°He¡¯s a gamer,¡± Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. ¡°All we heard before we signed him in the offseason is how good of a teammate this guy is. He¡¯s a baseball player. ¡ So yeah, he¡¯s in the mix.¡±
Welcome to camp
Late Monday evening, the Mets acquired 24-year-old outfielder Alexander Canario from the Cubs in a cash deal. Chicago had recently designated Canario for assignment, prompting Mets officials to take a look. Canario becomes the 69th player in Major League camp.
An athletic corner outfielder who spent time in the Majors the past two seasons, Canario features an intriguing blend of power and speed, with 109 homers and 81 stolen bases over 519 career Minor League games.
Realistically, there¡¯s no room for Canario to make the Mets¡¯ Opening Day roster, with six outfielders -- Juan Soto, Brandon Nimmo, Tyrone Taylor, Jose Siri, Starling Marte and Jesse Winker -- appearing secure. But Canario, who is out of Minor League options, offers the team an additional measure of depth to guard against injury. The Mets could also try to sneak him through waivers at the end of Spring Training, when front offices can be less inclined to put in claims.
¡°Athlete with power, young,¡± Mendoza said. ¡°We like that.¡±