Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

With Opening Day approaching in two weeks, FanGraphs has released its updated roster projections for all Major League Baseball clubs. This year’s roster projections across the league look at bit difference, as the late start to spring training allows teams to carry a 28-man roster through the first month of the season. Of course, the year-round DH now being in the NL created 15 new starting jobs in lineups as well.

With that, let’s take a look at how FanGraphs projects the Mets to open the 2022 season, including what positional battles still remain up in the air.

Starting Lineup 

  1. Brandon Nimmo, RF
  2. Starling Marte, CF
  3. Francisco Lindor, SS
  4. Pete Alonso, 1B
  5. Robinson Canó, DH
  6. Eduardo Escobar, 3B
  7. Jeff McNeil, 2B
  8. Mark Canha, LF
  9. James McCann, C

After adding Marte, Escobar, and Canha as free agents this offseason, the Mets enter 2022 with a well rounded lineup. The addition of the permanent DH will be massive for the team as well, despite the fact that Canó is a major question mark coming off last year’s full-season suspension for PEDs.

That being said, whether Canó ultimately takes most of the at-bats at DH, or the team uses the slot to give fringe starters such as J.D. Davis more playing time, having that extra bat in the lineup will be a significant upgrade for the offense – although we’ll miss seeing Jacob deGrom get his turn at the plate.

Davis will likely also get occasional starts at the hot corner when Escobar is unavailable or on a standard rest day. McNeil is another versatile fielder who can play multiple spots in the infield, and can even be used in the outfield if needed as well.

The top of the order gives the Mets a 1-2 punch that brings a knack for speed and getting on base. Nimmo and Marte should be interchangeable at those top two spots throughout the season, with both players having significant experience leading off games. In the outfield, all three of Nimmo, Marte, and Canha are seasoned at at least two of the outfield positions, with Nimmo and Canha having played all three for extended periods of time at some point in the majors.

Lindor and Alonso has the potential to be the best 3-4 of any lineup in the National League this season. The Dodgers may give the duo a run for their money, but a bounceback season by Lindor, paired with Alonso’s usual power, can have fans looking at 30+ homers for both All-Stars.

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Bench

  • Tomás Nido, C
  • Luis Guillorme, INF
  • J.D. Davis, 3B
  • Dominic Smith, OF/1B

The Mets bring back a bench that will be familiar to fans, as all four of these projected players had significant roles on the Mets last season. After an impressive start to the spring (despite the limited sample size), Smith is a candidate to find numerous at-bats at DH this season, especially given a difficulty in finding him consistent playing time in a packed field.

Nido played a career high in games last season (58), and should see even more playing time this season compared to the average backup catcher, especially due to his defensive prowess.

Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

Starting Rotation 

  1. Jacob deGrom, RHP
  2. Max Scherzer, RHP
  3. Chris Bassitt, RHP
  4. Carlos Carrasco, RHP
  5. Tylor Megill, RHP

The top of this Mets rotation has a case to not only be one of the best in baseball this season, but one of the best in franchise history. DeGrom and Scherzer have won a combined five Cy Young awards and have been among the league leaders in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts, among other major pitching statistics, for most of the past decade. Just last season alone, deGrom and Scherzer’s combined ERA numbers totaled 3.54 – more than a full run under what a “quality start” is considered. That is just ridiculously good.

The rest of the rotation brings promise as well. Bassitt was a first-time All-Star in 2021. Carrasco struggled during his first year in Queens, but has a track record of success from his days in Cleveland. Megill enjoyed a sensational first half of his rookie season before stumbling a bit in August and September, but now has a year of major league experience under his belt. As is, he may ultimately lose his rotation spot once Taijuan Walker returns from the injured list.

Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

Bullpen 

The projected Mets bullpen is mostly arms who were with the team last year, which at first glance may seem troubling; one of the glaring flaws for the 2021 Mets was the bullpen’s inability to close out games when leading late. With Jeurys Familia now in Philadelphia, the Mets brought in Adam Ottavino, who has had an above-average career (127 ERA+) across four other clubs, most recently the Red Sox.

Díaz is back for his third season in the Mets closer role, and generally has been a boom or bust type pitcher when needed most in the ninth inning. But he enjoyed a fantastic campaign in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season (1.75 ERA), and followed that up with 32 saves last year. The hope is that an improved offense will see Díaz pitching in less one-run games, relieving (no-pun intended) some of the pressure off him that often got to him last season.

One name to keep an eye on here is Drew Smith, who had an underrated good year on the mound in 2021, posting a 2.40 ERA in 41 1/3 innings. Smith has the potential to quickly rise up the bullpen hierarchy and may even see occasional eighth-inning setup work this year.

The obvious big change here is the Mets losing shutdown lefty Aaron Loup and replacing him with former Met Chasen Shreve (and others) on minor league deals. Time will tell if the Mets made a mistake by not bringing back Loup or another one of the top lefties that were on the market.

Reminder that the rosters are currently scheduled to go back to 26 players on May 2, and that a new rule restricts the amount of times a player can be optioned to the minors to five.