Opening Day is lower than two weeks away, which implies spring coaching is shortly coming to an in depth and baseball video games will quickly rely towards the standings. The Mets are limping to the end, with 4 huge league regulars set to begin the season on the injured record, and one who was projected to be on the Opening Day roster out for the season.
Beginning pitchers Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea, catcher Francisco Alvarez and infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil will all be out to begin the season. Nick Madrigal might be out all yr. No crew will get by way of spring coaching with out accidents, and the Mets stay bullish on their depth, but it surely does create extra competitors in the course of the last week of camp.
With that stated, listed here are 5 questions the Mets will search to reply as they enter the house stretch in Port St. Lucie.
WILL BRETT BATY MAKE THE TEAM?
The Mets have been making an attempt to determine a job for the previous third-base prospect since final summer season. With McNeil out with an indirect pressure, Baty has an opportunity to make the Opening Day roster as a second baseman. The crew is making an attempt to transform him right into a utility infielder. They let the 24-year-old know forward of spring that he must battle for a job in Port St. Lucie, and warranted him that he would have each alternative to take action, giving him time at second and third base.
Baty has had an excellent spring on the plate, sustaining an OPS of over 1.000 and getting the ball within the air extra typically. His expertise at second base is proscribed to solely 27 Triple-A video games. With McNeil happening, the Mets don’t need to drive Baty into an unfamiliar place. However they do want a shortstop to spell Francisco Lindor, which leads me to the subsequent query…
CAN THEY CARRY LUISANGEL ACUÑA?
The utility infielder has to have the ability to spell the shortstop, and Acuña may be the best choice. However at what value wouldn’t it be to the prospect’s growth?
The Mets have been discussing this since final season ended. Acuña can play shortstop and performed it properly rather than Lindor late final season. With the crew in the midst of a decent race for a Wild Card playoff spot, the 23-year-old Acuña produced, hitting .308 with three homers, two doubles, a triple and one stroll in 40 plate appearances.
Nonetheless, a 14-game pattern measurement is fairly small, and Acuña had already struggled in Triple-A all season. Would it not be greatest to begin him in Syracuse?
The Mets confronted the same dilemma final spring with Mark Vientos. Slated for a DH spot, the crew in the end determined they wanted extra energy and weren’t snug utilizing somebody with solely 81 video games of huge league expertise as a DH. They signed J.D. Martinez late and Vientos began the season in Triple-A.
An outdoor acquisition most likely isn’t within the playing cards with Donnie Walton and Luis De Los Santos. The Mets may very well be extra inclined to go together with a kind of two to begin the season, particularly since De Los Santos has minor league choices, to have the ability to get Acuña extra time in Syracuse.
WHO WILL BACK UP LUIS TORRENS?
Alvarez (hamate surgical procedure) is hoping to return on the finish of April, which opens a spot for the No. 2 catcher behind Torrens. Hayden Senger has lengthy been lauded for his defensive skills behind the plate, however hasn’t hit constantly at any degree. In eight Grapefruit League video games this yr, he has solely two hits (2-for-12), each singles. Jakson Reetz has put up comparable numbers, however did hit one residence run. Chris Williams has just one hit.
Reetz has main league expertise, which may land him a spot on the Opening Day roster, however they’re accustomed to Senger and so is the pitching employees.
WILL THEY CARRY SIX STARTERS?
The Mets could have 4 off days within the first month of the common season, three of which is able to come earlier than April 10. So how do they assemble the roster for the early days of the season?
They may carry right-handed starters Griffin Canning and Paul Blackburn, whereas sending Tylor Megill to the minor leagues till April 11, once they start a 13-game stretch. Or they might use Megill within the rotation and put Blackburn or Canning within the bullpen.
Nonetheless, assuming Max Kranick makes the Opening Day roster as a reliever, that would imply carrying three lengthy relievers. Perhaps that’s not a foul concept early within the season, particularly given the priority round Kodai Senga’s well being.
HOW WILL INJURIES IMPACT METS IN APRIL & MAY?
Manaea and Alvarez aren’t anticipated to be out lengthy, however Senga was purported to return inside six weeks of the beginning of the common season final yr and didn’t return till July. No crew is resistant to accidents, particularly pitching accidents. This query may not be answered by March 27, but when these find yourself being longer-term accidents, the Mets could have to regulate some plans.
Initially Printed: March 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM EDT
