Mets Likely To Carry Alonso and Smith on Opening Day

Mets’ Manager Mickey Callaway addressed the team’s strong consideration in carrying both Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith on the Opening Day roster.

If both first basemen crack the 25-man roster, Callaway says there will be NO platoon and did not offer to elaborate on their playing time. “Both of them have shown that they can hit both righties and lefties,” said Callaway.

While Alonso and Smith have certainly earned their spots this spring, it makes little sense to carry two players, who exclusively play first base. Smith played 13 games in left field last season and struggled with -5 DRS and a UZR of -3.1. Smith’s struggles in the outfield led the team to announce this offseason that he will no longer be placed out there.

Despite this claim, Jeff McNeil will most likely be starting at third with Todd Frazier and Jed Lowrie doubtful to start the season. This could open the door for the Mets to start Smith (who said he’d go back to the outfield to make the roster) in left for a small sample just until they get back Frazier or Lowrie. In all likelihood, the majority of Smith’s playing time will come as a valuable pinch hitter and bench piece, who will get an occasional start at first base in place of Alonso.

“I think that if it makes us have the best team (to carry both guys) and we think that we’re not doing the player a disservice. … we want to make sure that everybody that’s on our roster is one of the best 25 guys,” said Callaway, who echoed the common theme that has been emphasized by General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen all offseason.

Callaway also added that the team has a lot of difficult decisions to make with the regular season on the horizon and reiterated that there is no final decision yet on Alonso and Smith.