Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
It has been a transcendent offseason for the New York Mets and their bevy of offseason moves have given them the best lineup in baseball, according to MLB.com.
In a Top 10 rankings piece compiled by Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, the Mets come out top of the pile and have the best lineup in the majors heading into the 2023 season. However, it is important to note that Castrovince has included one major caveat with that ranking. That caveat is the No. 1 ranking spot hinges on whether or not Carlos Correa passes his medical with New York.
However, considering all is well with Correa’s medical, then Castrovince is certainly drinking the Mets Kool-Aid and believes the team will have a lineup to be absolutely feared in 2023. Here’s the projected lineup Castrovince has down for the Mets next year:
- Brandon Nimmo, CF
- Carlos Correa, 3B
- Francisco Lindor, SS
- Pete Alonso, 1B
- Jeff McNeil, 2B
- Starling Marte, RF
- Daniel Vogelbach, DH
- Mark Canha, LF
- Omar Narváez
That is a formidable lineup. Now, it is worth remembering that this lineup could look different come Opening Day. After all, per MMO’s very own Michael Mayer, the front office are still interested in adding another bat to the lineup. That could maybe come in the form of someone who can platoon at the DH spot with Vogelbach.
That is a lot of firepower at manager Buck Showalter‘s disposal. The Mets struggled with power in 2022 – they tied for 15th in the majors in home runs (171) – but the blockbuster addition of Correa certainly addresses that flaw. It is also important to note that phenom catcher Francisco Álvarez – the No. 1 prospect in baseball – could become this team’s everyday catcher at some point in 2023 and he will also provide plenty of pop.
With Nimmo leading off and then Correa, Lindor, Alonso, McNeil and Marte all following on deck, opposing managers are going to be posed with matchup nightmares all season long. Having Vogelbach, Canha and Narváez or Álvarez round out the bottom of the lineup is certainly a luxury a lot of other managers won’t have either.
One thing the Mets struggled with in 2022 was lineup depth. That won’t be a problem next year. After all, following Correa’s addition and the fact he will play third-base, Showalter will have the benefit of using Eduardo Escobar as a switch-hitter off the bench. As already mentioned, Álvarez could be a lethal weapon in a depth role and there’s also prospects Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, who will be nice options to slide in and out of the lineup throughout next year.
Overall, the Mets will boast one of the most dangerous lineups on paper heading into 2023 as long as there are no more glitches with Correa’s medical. If that’s the case, and if everyone stays healthy, this lineup has the potential to absolutely mash, put the ball in play at a high rate and cause a lot of damage. The Mets could be a lot of fun to watch next year.
In terms of the rest of the Top 5, Castrovince has the San Diego Padres listed at No. 2 given their abundance of offensive riches, the reigning World Series champions the Houston Astros in the No. 3 spot, the young core of the Toronto Blue Jays at No. 4, and the St. Louis Cardinals in the No. 5 hole. The Mets’ National League East rivals, the Atlanta Braves, have the sixth best ranked lineup heading into 2023.
To find out who rounds out the Top 10, you can see Anthony Castrovince’s full list by clicking here.
