This past offseason has been well, slow. Big names remain on the market, and with spring training right around the corner, it’s anybody’s guess who will sign where. However, it’s as good a time as ever to take stock of who the Mets have, rather than who they don’t. It’s hard to forget about Kodai Senga‘s electric rookie season or what Francisco Álvarez might do in his second big league season.

It’s time to examine the Mets’ depth chart at each position. First up is a position that will surely be one of the most talked about throughout the season: first base.

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Big League Starter

Pete Alonso

Age: 29 (12/07/1994)
Contract: 3rd-Year Arbitration Eligible (Free agent after 2024)
Roster Status: 40-man roster

2024 Preview: Pete Alonso, one of the most talked about players this offseason, enters the 2024 season in what could be his final year in Queens. Rumors swirled ever since the trade deadline in August he might be traded, but the new president of baseball operations assured all Pete will be the starting first baseman come Opening Day. After a hot-and-cold season in 2023, Alonso still managed to clobber 46 home runs, third most in baseball. He mustered only a .217 batting average, and a pitch to the wrist in June might have contributed to the slump.

All in all, Pete will do Pete things in 2024, especially in his walk year — and while a contract extension before the season looks unlikely at this point, that’s not to say it won’t get done at some point.

Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Big League Depth

Mark Vientos

Age: 24 (12/11/1999)
Contract: Pre-Arbitration Eligible
Roster Status: 40-man roster
MiLB Options: 1

2024 Preview: Expect Mark Vientos‘ name to appear multiple times on this depth chart. A third baseman when he entered the organization, the Mets have put Vientos in a plethora of positions to see where he fits best. While his glove still needs work, he’s shown flashes of excellence at both first and third in his limited action in the big leagues. While the team expects Vientos to be the everyday designated hitter, he also serves as Alonso’s backup at first.

The real test for Vientos won’t be with his glove but rather the bat. The team wants and needs to see what type of hitter the righty can grow into and become. If that means they have their DH of the future on their hands, or if they need to adjust and course correct. Expect to see plenty of Vientos in 2024, as it will be his spot on the roster to lose.

Photo by Bronson Harris of Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Upper-Level Depth

JT Schwartz

Age: 24 (12/17/1999)
Contract: Minor League
Roster Status: Not on 40-man roster, Rule 5 Draft Eligible December 2024
MiLB Options: 3

2024 Preview: A former fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft, JT Schwartz has steadily moved through the Mets’ farm system. His career got off to a rocky start in Low-A St. Lucie but worked his way up to Double-A Binghamton this year, where he hit .302/.383/.437/.819 through 66 games. Like many other Mets, Schwartz can also play left field but primarily sticks to first.

He played in the 2023 Arizona Fall League, where he was named hitter of the week and led the Mets’ affiliate team, the Glendale Desert Dogs, in doubles. Schwartz led all Mets prospects on the Desert Dogs in hits (18), RBIs (13) and SLG (.437). Look out for Schwartz’s name if the Mets need depth at the major league level throughout the 2024 season. While he’ll likely begin the year in Triple-A Syracuse, there’s not much of a line to the majors in front of him.

Coming Soon

Ryan Clifford

Age: 20 (07/20/2003)
Contract: Minor League
Roster Status: Not on 40-man roster, Rule 5 Draft Eligible December 2026
MiLB Options: 3

2024 Preview: Ryan Clifford, MLB Pipeline’s 97th overall ranked prospect, will likely begin the season in Double-A Binghamton, his first full season in the Mets organization after coming over mid-season in part of the Justin Verlander trade. He plays both corner outfield spots and first base, with many scouts believing that he’ll eventually land permanently at first due to the defensive demands.

The lefty has pop, but a high strikeout rate. In 2023, Clifford struck out 140 times between his time in the New York and Houston organizations, only walking a combined 64 times. Clifford struggled when he got to Brooklyn, finishing the season hitting .188/.307/.376. While growing pains are natural, Binghamton will be the first test of what’s to come for him.

First base had been an enigma for the Mets for quite some time until Pete Alonso came along. However, depth at the position was still thin. With 162 games to play and his future up in the air after the season, the Mets might need to consider their long-term goals at the position.