As the New York Mets prepare to open their season they know their offense has to improve big time if they are the climb up the NL East ladder and the biggest offseason pick up was future Hall of Famer Robinson Cano who returns to NY and will sit in the middle of the Mets lineup.

Last year was a mixed bag for Cano but after returning from a PED suspension, he looked like the Cano of old and has certainly shown that in spring training. He will sit in the middle of the lineup along with the sweet-swinging Michael Conforto whose second half of the season in 2018 gave the Mets hope that he would return to his All-star form once the curtain rises on the 2019 season.

He was the subject of many trade requests from opposing teams including the Marlins when they dangled J.T. Realmuto in front of the eyes of Brodie Van Wagenen, but the Met GM resisted. Instead, he signed Wilson Ramos to a free agent deal bringing much needed right-handed balance to a lineup that also included the left-handed bat of Brandon Nimmo who had a breakthrough season putting the idea in the heads of the Mets he could be a bona fide leadoff hitter with an on-base percentage that hovered around 400 all season.

But there are two more players that could break out making the offense in Pete Alonso and Amed Rosario. They are both homegrown players that could potentially bring important components to this lineup and develop into stars.

Rosario brings speed and a lightning-quick bat coupled with stellar defense while the power of Alonso is difficult to ignore and, at least to me, Pete has improved his defense which was his major stumbling block heading into spring training. The chances are good that both Alonso and Dominic Smith will make this team and share the position at first in some fashion, with the first likely getting the larger share of the playing time.

Jed Lowrie and Todd Frazier are both coming off spring training injuries and I am guessing both won’t be ready for at least a few weeks so Smith and Alonso will get every opportunity to man the ship at first until they are ready to perform. At that point, Mickey Callaway will have an interesting decision especially if Alonso is hitting the long ball, but it is my belief those are the decisions you relish as a manager—too many productive players.

Centerfield is an interesting decision as well for the manager as both Juan Lagares and Keon Broxton bring strong defense to the table and of course, let’s not forget Carlos Gomez who makes that an incredibly defensively-gifted trio of options at the position. But of the three, my guess is that Lagares will bring the best offense to the table. The only question mark is, can he stay healthy?

The other roster decision is backup catcher as Wilson Ramos will get the bulk of the starts but the question remains will Travis d’Arnaud be healthy enough to command a backup role. He carries an above average stick in that role, but health and rehabilitation of his throwing arm might dictate his long-term role on the team.

To me it is a pretty good offense with one fly in the ointment—Is it possible we will see Yoenis Cespedes this year and if so, can he be a force? I can only tell you that he looks pretty mobile in spring training and with everything he has endured in his life, I would never count him out. Late July is a reasonable target date and who knows—maybe he can be the mid-season acquisition he was in 2015. Wouldn’t that be a great story?

My sense is the Mets offense will be above average, but this team is still very much reliant on their pitching. Other teams in the NL East have better potential run production, but this Mets pitching staff will be able to do more with less, making offense less of a concern. And yes, I do think Cespedes will return in the middle of the season, adding thump to a lineup that might need a battery recharge after All-Star Break.

All in all, Cano, Conforto, and Cespedes could be a middle of the order that can wreak havoc in the post-season. I am calling that trio the three C’s and if they stay healthy they might just pound National League pitching into submission.