Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

It’s official. The designated hitter is coming to the National League. Whether or not you hate it there’s no stopping it with owners unanimously agreeing on it.

The Mets already have several candidates on their current roster to DH but with Steve Cohen going for it all, the real solution could still be looming on the free-agent market. Let’s take a look at the options.

Internal Options

Pete Alonso

The Polar Bear is the obvious choice. Giving Alonso an opportunity to solely focus on the offensive side of the game could unlock a version of him Mets fans haven’t seen yet. But, Alonso has proven himself capable as a defender at first base and finished in the 74th percentile of outs above average last season. If Alonso, a potential future team captain, wants the honor then he’ll have to play both ways.

Robinson Cano

Cano played throughout the winter and his bat was not at the level the Mets needed or wanted to see. He was suspended for all of 2021 due to a positive PED test and his power seems gone. Cano will make $24 million this season, so there’s that incentive to play him.

Dominic Smith

Smith could never get things going in 2021, causing many to believe that his 2020 was a fluke. At 27 years old Smith can still turn his career around and reach the levels he did in 2020. The key difference between 2020 and 2021 is his launch angle. His average launch angle in the shortened season was 10.9, leading to a career-high 13.3% barrel rate. In 2021 his average launch angle increased to 14.9 degrees and his barrel rate decreased to 6.5%, nearly identical to what he had in 2018 and 2019. Smith no longer has a corner outfield spot and Alonso isn’t giving up first base, he’ll have to beat out his teammates for the role.

J.D. Davis

Maybe the player not named Cano, Mets fans want to see least in 2022 is Davis. His fielding is poor and his bat hasn’t excelled in two seasons. The Mets already let Davis know how they feel about his role in 2022 by signing Eduardo Escobar at the start of free agency. He’s most likely to find himself as a pinch hitter throughout the season.

External Options

Kyle Schwarber

After what Schwarber did to the Mets in 2021, many fans never want to pitch to him again. The only way to fully prevent that is to sign him. Schwarber is a powerful left-hand bat coming off the best season of his career. He had an OPS+ of 148 in 113 games for the Nationals and Red Sox. Schwarber crossed the 30 home run plateau for the third time in his career. He’s an ideal candidate with both his fielding positions occupied on the Mets already.

Anthony Rizzo

How about another former Cub? Rizzo remained productive at the plate in 2021 and has a decade of work to back it up. He might not be the All-Star he once was but a guy with a batting average over .250 would be a welcome addition to the team.

Nelson Cruz

Cruz knows his whole job is to show up and destroy baseballs. He will never complain about not playing the field and seems to only get better with age. By all reports, he’s a terrific clubhouse presence. If the Mets can sign Cruz to a one-year deal there’s no reason not to have him.