The struggles of the 2023 Mets and the accompanying anger from the average fan all the way up to owner Steve Cohen means there will be some major changes before opening day 2024.

However, the shortstop position is a place of stability for the Mets, meaning it’d be a shocker if anybody other than the incumbent was there to start the season. 

Francisco Lindor. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Big League Starter

If my introduction didn’t give it away, this is Francisco Lindor’s spot now and for the foreseeable future. The 29-year-old has been the team’s shortstop for three seasons now, since arriving from Cleveland in a blockbuster trade prior to the 2021 season, subsequently signing a 10-year contract worth $341 million. There are eight years left on that deal.

Lindor’s first season in Queens was underwhelming, however the last two have been improved. In 2022, Lindor hit 26 home runs and drove in a career high 107 runs en route to finishing ninth in National League MVP voting. This past season, the two-time silver slugger accrued 31 home runs, 98 RBIs, an OPS above .800 and is a finalist to win his third gold glove. 

After being named to four consecutive All-Star teams in Cleveland between 2016 and 2019, Lindor has yet to get the nod since becoming a Met. 

Big League Depth 

Over the past two seasons, there have been a total of seven games that Lindor was not manning shortstop for the Mets. In the rare moments the Puerto Rican is not patrolling the space between the second and third baseman, there is ready made depth on the Mets roster. 

Luis Guillorme made his debut with the team in 2018, developing into a solid utility infielder. Last season he struggled, only hitting .224, however that number was his lowest since his rookie season. The previous two seasons, he had an OPS+ of 92 and 101, placing him as an around league average hitter. 

Ronny Mauricio, a top-100 prospect in the sport according to MLB.com, also has an ability to man shortstop. Of the 26 MLB games Mauricio played, he has spent 21 at second base. In 101 at-bats, the 22-year-old had an on-base percentage of .296 with two home runs and nine RBIs. Most impressively, Mauricio stole seven bases without getting caught. At 22-years-old, Mauricio is still adjusting to the MLB level and getting his and other young bats into the lineup projects to be a priority for the 2024 season. 

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Upper Levels Depth

Mauricio is the team’s No. 4 prospect, according to MLB.com. However, its No. 1 and No. 3 prospects also play shortstop and finished the year with Double-A Binghamton.

The Mets acquired Luisangel Acuna from the Texas Rangers in the Max Scherzer trade. Acuna, the brother of Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr., is the organization’s top prospect, most known for his impressive speed. Between Texas and New York, Acuna spent the entirety of the 2023 season in Double-A with the majority of his games played at shortstop, although he spend a number of games at second base and even four in center field. Last season, Acuna hit .294  with nine home runs, 57 RBIs and 57 stolen bases. 

When drafted 14th overall in the 2022 draft out of a Texas high school, Jett Williams was considered a long-term gamble. He had natural talent, but it was projected to be a slow ascension to the majors. However, that was before the 2023 season that saw Williams go from Class-A St. Lucie to Double-A Binghamton within a few months. Williams hit .263 with 13 home runs and 45 stolen bases last season. Williams only played six games with Binghamton before the season ended, but if Acuna moves up to Triple-A, the shortstop spot should be his to hold at Double-A. 

The Mets may bring in a more experienced player to serve in AAA and be emergency depth. Last year Jonathon Arauz served in that role and could be brought back to do it again. 

Potential Acquisitions 

With Lindor, Guillorme and three of your top-four prospects able to man shortstop, there’s no reason to overthink about the position. Lindor’s only missed three games in the last two seasons and is entering his age-30 season.

However, injuries can strike at any time. If new President of Baseball Operations David Stearns wants to avoid throwing an Acuna or Williams into the MLB before their ready due to a hypothetical Lindor injury, I would not blame him.

If Stearns wants to sign an extra versatile bat, there are options out there.

Enrique (Kiké) Hernandez—and great friend to Lindor—is a free agent with positional versatility who made 74 appearances at shortstop in 2023. Hernandez only had an OPS of .646 last season, but had 11 home runs and 61 RBIs.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa has not exactly been a superstar with the Yankees, but the 2020 Gold Glove winner is versatile. In 2023, the only positions he didn’t play were first base and catcher. In addition to patrolling almost the entire diamond at one point or another, he hit .242 and had the same OPS as Hernandez. He hit six home runs and had 37 RBIs in 2023, also stealing 14 bases. 

It’s not likely either of these bats end up with the Mets next year. Although they’d be nice additions for the sake of depth, this is Lindor’s spot for next year and beyond.