26 Mets roster predictions for 2023 MLB season too early

While rebuilding much of their 101-win team last season, the Mets, who had a great offseason, are less than a month away from pitchers and catchers returning to spring training, with the majority of their roster-by-roster numbers 100,000. It looks like it’s set.

The exception, of course, is that they still don’t have another hitter owner. Steve Cohen They said “necessary”.Cohen, of course, made that comment when the team agreed Carlos Correa (before the deal fell apart over concerns about Correa’s ankle).

Mets still need more offense as spring training approaches (regardless of GM’s method) Billy Eppler recently gave it a spin), so maybe they’ll pull off a surprise deal.

But the guess here is that the roster they have now is basically the one they’re going into for the season. Or you need to be aggressive before the trade deadline.

And with the need for more punch in the lineup, the Mets’ 26-man roster prediction came too early, but here it is…

Regular lineup

Omar Narvaez / Francisco AlvarezC
Pete Alonso1B
Jeff McNeil2B
Francisco LindorSS
Eduardo Escobar3B
Mark CanaLF
Brandon NemoCF
Starling MarteRF
Alvarez/Daniel Vogelbach/Tommy PhamDH

Except for catching and third base situations, which are detailed below, the Mets have a regular lineup.

Most days include Alonso, McNeill, Lindor, Nemo, Marte, Caña and Vogelbach.

McNeill should start at second base most of the time, but the Mets have the option to use him in the corner outfield when they want. So you can get creative with lineup combinations that put McNeill in the outfield and another composition at second base or his third base.

That takes us to hot corners.

Escobar struggled for most of the 2022 season, but exploded in September when his bat revived and he was named the National League Player of the Month.

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There is a case that Escobar should only start against left-handers (last season he slugged .387 against right-handers, whereas he slugged . was).it will open the door Brett Beatty Become the long end of the third base platoon. But the Mets probably want Batty to get a little more seasoning at Triple A.

Getting more reps in the minors could also benefit Alvarez, but his bat could be a weapon enough to be included in the Mets’ plans from the 2023 jump.

The plan calls for Alvarez (who should continue to develop behind the plate and should never be used as a full-time DH this season) and Narvaez to catch around 70 games each. Thomas Nido Get another start. On days Alvarez isn’t behind the plate, he’s available as his DH. The Mets can frequently put his bat into the lineup while facilitating the full-time catcher role.

Start rotation

Max ScherzerRHPs
Justin VerlanderRHPs
Ancient ChigaRHPs
Jose QuintanaLHPs
Carlos CarrascoRHPs

Aside from some weird things happening and wrench-throwing injuries, the Mets’ starting five are in stone. And Scherzer has the edge over Verlander, so he’s nominated for the opening round, his number one behind Verlander’s 1A. But these designations don’t really matter.

Beyond the expected five rotation members, the Mets have solid depth, including Tyler Megill, David Peterson, Eliza Hernandez, Joey LucchesiWhen Jose Bhutto.

None of them are terrible players, but Megill has a fair amount of upside that he showed early last season before being derailed by injury.

For anyone wondering when the next crop of Mets starting pitchers will start showing up on their radar, they’ll have to wait a bit.

Blade Tidwell It may be ready at some point in 2024, Calvin Ziegler It could debut in 2025. Matt Allan After losing a few seasons to injury, we’ll have to see him perform back on the mound before deciding when he can make a presence with the Bigs.

bull-pen

Edwin DiazCLS
David RobertsonRHPs
Adam OttavinoRHPs
Brooks RayleighLHPs
Drew SmithRHPs
John Curtis RHPs
Bryce Montes de OcaRHPs
David PetersonLHPs

Most of the Mets’ bullpen looks set.

Diaz, Robertson, Ottavino, Rayleigh and Smith are rock.

Curtis, who the Mets signed to a two-year deal last offseason while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, should have an inside track in one of the other spots. increase.

But with those six pitchers in the bullpen, the Mets have room for one or two more, depending on whether they have seven or eight.

Montes de Oca, who has something otherworldly but needs to refine it, grabs one of them and Peterson makes it as Longman and second left hander.

The Mets have plenty of other bullpen options. Stephen Ridings, Zach Green, Jeff BrighamWhen Taylor Saucedo.

bench

Thomas NidoC
Luis GuillermeINF
Daniel Vogelbach, Tommy Pham, Omar Narvaez, Francisco Alvarez (bench option depending on lineup of the day)

Nido will start as a reserve catcher and Gyeolme will play as a reserve infielder. Beyond that, the Mets bench depends on who is in the starting lineup for the day.

The bench often includes Pham, who serves as the fourth outfielder. Vogelbach is also a backup first baseman (he appeared in his 52 games in 2021). Narváez and Alvarez may also be included.

Other bench possibilities are: Danny Mendick (who has minor league options) and Mark Vientos.

Darrin Ruffthose who remain on the team but do not actually have a role must be traded before the opening.