With injuries altering equation, here's Mets' projected Opening Day roster
This browser does not support the video element.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Things have certainly changed since the Mets opened camp one month ago. A pair of pitching injuries to Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas has upended the rotation. Infielder Nick Madrigal also went down early in Grapefruit League play, and now both catcher Francisco Alvarez and second baseman Jeff McNeil will miss time as well. All but Madrigal were set to play integral roles on the Opening Day roster, and even he was a solid bet to be there.
While this is an obviously weakened group, the Mets remain confident in their ability to overcome such losses. Here¡¯s how the projected roster looks with two weeks left in camp:
Catcher (2): Luis Torrens, Jakson Reetz
Alvarez¡¯s injury hurts, plain and simple. The obvious next man up is Torrens, who will become New York¡¯s starting catcher for the first few weeks of the season. Less obvious is who will be his backup. Reetz may be the only other catcher in camp featuring big league experience, but Hayden Senger and Chris Williams are also viable candidates for the job. Or, the Mets could dip into a free-agent pool that still includes veterans Yasmani Grandal and James McCann.
This browser does not support the video element.
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): Brett Baty, Donovan Walton
McNeil's injury would seem to solidify Baty¡¯s place on the roster. The Mets no longer need to worry about Baty¡¯s lack of shortstop experience as their lone bench infielder, because they¡¯re now guaranteed to carry one of Walton, Luis De Los Santos and Luisangel Acu?a to complement him. Acu?a is a tempting option given his youth, speed and performance as a rookie, but the Mets would still prefer to see him develop a bit more. That could still occur in the Minors, while one of Walton or De Los Santos shares second-base reps with Baty.
This browser does not support the video element.
Shortstop (1): Francisco Lindor
No surprises here, as Lindor will reprise his role at short 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. The Mets are counting on his breakout being real.
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 at the corners, but they¡¯re more likely ticketed for a DH platoon -- assuming Marte, who¡¯s been dealing with ongoing knee soreness, will be ready for the opener. On the off chance Marte can¡¯t make it, trade acquisition Alexander Canario would.
This browser does not support the video element.
Starting pitchers (5): Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Griffin Canning, Tylor Megill
Injuries to Manaea and Montas have upended this situation. With those two set to miss Opening Day, the Mets have three remaining candidates for two spots: Canning, Paul Blackburn and Megill. It¡¯s possible all three could make the team, with one in a swingman role. Notably, Megill has an accessible Minor League option, while Canning and Blackburn do not. But Mets officials have long been tantalized by the quality of Megill¡¯s stuff. This competition remains an intriguing one, largely for that reason.
Relief pitchers (8): Edwin Díaz, A.J. Minter, Ryne Stanek, Reed Garrett, Jose Butto, Danny Young, Max Kranick, Paul Blackburn
D¨ªaz, Minter and Stanek will serve as Mendoza¡¯s top three relievers, assuming Minter is healthy enough to be there following a September hip surgery. After that, the situation grows murkier. Dedniel Núñez is a lock if healthy, but he¡¯s progressing slowly on his road back from a right flexor tendon injury. While team officials don¡¯t consider N¨²?ez a rehabbing player, they acknowledge he might not be ready by Opening Day. Until he actually appears in a Grapefruit League game or two, it¡¯s difficult to project him onto the roster.
Garrett, Butt¨® and Young are surer things given last year¡¯s flashes of excellence. Sean Reid-Foley is essentially out of the picture after the Mets outrighted him off the 40-man roster, leaving a spot for Kranick, who¡¯s been a spring revelation. There¡¯s also an opening here for the loser of the fifth starter¡¯s job, at least to begin the season. Blackburn, who has struggled in two of his three spring outings so far, could assume that role.
Others still in camp include Jos¨¦ Ure?a (who has a late March opt-out in his contract, which sometimes matters in these types of decisions), Huascar Brazob¨¢n, Tyler Zuber, G¨¦nesis Cabrera, Anthony Gose and Chris Devenski. Most of them will begin the season at Triple-A Syracuse, but there¡¯s room for one or two to sneak onto the big league club.