16
2012
From Left Field: The 5th Bench Spot
An article by 
Though the Mets did not make any huge splashes this offseason, the final 25-man roster has pretty much taken shape already based on the team’s acquisitions.
Barring any injuries in spring training, the starting lineup looks set: Davis, Murphy, Tejada, Wright, Thole, Bay, Torres and Duda. Even the starting pitching staff won’t look too different than Santana, Dickey, Pelfrey, Niese and Gee (with maybe a few early starts to fill in for Santana still in question).
Even the bullpen seems to have defined roles already: Francisco, Rauch, Ramirez, Byrdak, Parnell, Acosta and Carrasco (based more so on his contract). Pedro Beato and Josh Stinson as well as few others will battle for the last spot.
But the one roster spot that remains totally up in the air is the final bench spot. Right now, we’re looking at a bench consisting of backup catcher Mike Nickeas, utility infielder Justin Turner, backup middle infielder Ronny Cedeno and outfielder/right-handed pinch hitter Scott Hairston.
The Mets have a glaring need for a left-handed hitting pinch hitter/outfielder to fill that final spot.
Other than Kirk Nieuwenheis who will likely start the season in Triple-A, the Mets do not have any other left-handed hitting outfielders on the 40-man roster (besides projected starter Lucas Duda). Of the non-roster invitees, Mike Baxter and Adam Loewen fit the bill.
Baxter might be the guy, since he can also play a little first base. He’s not going to be a power threat off the bench like Hairston, but he has the potential to spray line drives all over the field. I may be partial to Baxter because he’s a local Queens boy and he was an awesome guy when I met him. But still, given the opportunity, he could be the best choice.
As for Loewen, he was at one time a pitcher who converted to the outfield a few years ago. Spring training will determine if he can hit and whether he could be a valuable bench addition. Maybe he can even throw a few innings here and there.
Of the left-handed hitting outfielders still on the market, no one is too intriguing for the Mets purposes. Johnny Damon, Jay Gibbons, Raul Ibanez and J.D. Drew are all at least 35 years old, and the Mets cannot afford to waste a spot on a fifth outfielder that can’t play the outfield.
Two players that signed elsewhere would have been great fits for the Mets final bench spot: Endy Chavez and Rick Ankiel.
Chavez is of course a fan favorite as making that famous NLCS catch. But after losing Jose Reyes, this team needs some sort of speed from somewhere. Even if he wasn’t starting, Chavez can still steal a few bases here and there. He maybe doesn’t fit the bill as a potent left-handed bat off the bench, but he’s a top-notch defensive outfielder that could have replaced Duda late in games if the Mets have a lead (hopefully that’s more than just a few times all season).
Ankiel would have been the perfect left-handed complement to Hairston. He’s got some pop from the left side, can run a little and can play all three outfield positions. He probably could have even challenged Andres Torres for the starting center field gig.
He re-signed with the Nationals on a minor-league deal. Though he hit just .239 last season in an extended role, he would have made sense for the Mets on a one-year Major League deal for that final spot.
Anyway, besides the last bullpen spot, keep your eye on the candidates for the final bench spot. Hopefully, Baxter steps up and has a big spring, so the organization feels he can handle the job.
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He recently earned a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports reporter for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper and the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine. Click my name to view my personal website.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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I wonder who might be cut by another team in spring training to be the LH OFer on the bench?
Great point with the rule changes there will be some names out there for sure.
I am also very intrigued by Loewen. He’s still only 27, hit for power and had some speed as well last year in AAA. I expect at this point Baxter and Loewen to compete for that spot with the loser being not only off the MLB team but perhaps out of the organization, a winner take all battle could be intriguing.
When you consider what Ankiel signed for and Endy, it’s kind of a bummer we didn’t have enough left for one of them after spending $20 million on the bullpen. Baxter sounds like a nice guy and all, when the chips are down and Collins needs a pinch hitter off the bench, it doesn’t matter how nice you are, you still need someone productive at the plate that gives you a chance for a something meaningful to happen.
I don’t believe for a second that it was they could not afford those guys. I think those guys are looking for a place they can have the most impact or where they are comfortable. Those types of guys are exactly who will be left after Baxter and Loewen have been given a chance to earn the spot.
There will be plenty of cuts at the end of Spring Training. There is a new rule in effect that 5 days before the season starts9^ yrs service I believe if you are not on roster, they must give player $100k if they send him to minors plus they can be free agents in June.
I think too much is being made over this. $100,000 is like $5 bucks to a major league team. And why would it benefit any of these free agents to leave one minor league contract for another? Wouldn’t they have already weighed which minor league team they wanted to sign with in the first place when they signed the minor league deal?
I think the idea is that other teams might be able to offer a ML gig.
say the nats are full and want to send Ankiel down, but the Mets need a 25th man and will offer him a spot on the 25 man ML roster. Which do you think he is taking?
Because many have no intentions of playing in the minors to start with.
Countless veterans sign minor league deals with invites to spring training with no intentions or really thoughts that they might not make the MLB team. They looked around and saw things like Nationals are expecting to compete, maybe I could net a starting spot in CF…
a lot of these guys are going to have to roll the dice and either go FA and potentially sit at home, or go to the minors knowing they can opt out on 6/1. i bet a lot of guys take the 6/1 option to show they can still play.
SA said the other day on his WFAN interview that he does expect there will be guys available due to this rule. Even insinuated guys that the Mets looked at to begin with that wound up signing with another team on a minor league contract.
6 years of major league service time.
Most of the names floated around had their own issues (in many cases no particular ability to play the field), and for the mets needs, baxter or Loewen (he also really intrigues me) cold just as easily do the job.
if not, they will find someone else in ST before the season starts. there are always plenty of last men on the bench types up for grabs.
Something to keep in mind but Captain Kirk is also a LH bat. Is it possible he makes it out of ST as the LH caddie for Bay and compliment to Torres? There surely would be enough AB’s for him to not just be sitting around on his hands.
Now that is something I would love to see.
How about Captain Kirk makes the team out of ST as the starting CF and Torres becomes the 5th OF??? I would love to see that!