With the first wave of spring training games completed, the Mets are a different team than in years past. While new president of baseball operations David Stearns and owner Steve Cohen didn’t make any splashy signings, they still brought in a slew of fresh faces. Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, Jake Diekman, Joey Wendle, Jorge López, Tyrone Taylor, Adrian Houser and Harrison Bader all look to make their mark in Flushing this season. Added to their core group of players like Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo, the roster appears relatively rounded out.
That said, there are still a handful of roles and spots up for grabs as spring play continues, so let’s project what the team’s 26-man roster will look like.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Starting Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo, LF
- Starling Marte, RF
- Francisco Lindor, SS
- Pete Alonso, 1B
- Jeff McNeil, 2B
- Francisco Álvarez, C
- DJ Stewart, DH
- Brett Baty, 3B
- Harrison Bader, CF
“If” is the big question here. If McNeil’s bicep soreness isn’t an issue, he’s a lock for Opening Day. The Mets don’t seem too concerned, and McNeil only paused hitting exercises. However, this lineup is a no-brainer. Marte returns to the lineup after missing a chunk of 2023 with groin injuries and already looks like his former self.
The Mets signed Bader to a one-year deal, shifting Nimmo to left and giving the Mets a defensive upgrade in the outfield. However, third base still looks to be Baty’s to lose, while the DH role is very much up for grabs.
Starting Rotation
10. José Quintana, LHP
11. Luis Severino, RHP
12. Sean Manaea, LHP
13. Adrian Houser, RHP
14. Tylor Megill, RHP
This is where the Mets’ plans haven’t gone accordingly. Kodai Senga was shut down for three weeks with a right posterior capsule strain and is expected to resume throwing in about two weeks. He received a PRP injection. As a result, a rotation spot is up for grabs.
It’s essentially a brand new rotation for the Mets, with none of the pitchers above on the Mets’ Opening Day roster in 2023. (Quintana was on the IL and Megill began the year in Syracuse.) While Megill will likely be the chosen one, he’s up against Jose Buttó and Joey Lucchesi for the final spot.
Bench
15. Tyrone Taylor, OF
16. Mark Vientos, DH/1B/3B
17. Omar Narváez, C
18. Rylan Bannon, INF
One player tends to wind up on the IL before the season starts, and money’s on Joey Wendle this season. As a result, Bannon sneaks into the roster after boasting an impressive glove and bat in spring play thus far. Vientos and Narváez are no shocks there. Mark will see his fair share of at-bats in DH and some play in the field as well, and Narváez remains Álvarez’s backup.
Bullpen
19. Edwin Díaz, CL
20. Adam Ottavino, RHP
21. Brooks Raley, LHP
22. Drew Smith, RHP
23. Jake Diekman, LHP
24. Michael Tonkin, RHP
25. Sean Reid-Foley, RHP
26. Jorge López, RHP
And here’s where things get tricky. Entering the offseason, the Mets’ bullpen needed some serious work. The only holdovers from 2023 were Smith, Raley and Ottavino (who re-signed in the offseason after declining his player option). Díaz looks to return with a vengeance after missing all of 2023 from a torn patellar tendon in the World Baseball Classic.
The Mets took a new approach to constructing their bullpen with David Stearns at the helm. He adopted a mentality he had with the Brewers—sign players with high upside for a low cost. He did so in López, Fujinami and Diekman especially. All pitchers have their own unique delivery, and no delivery is the same for each pitch selection. While López and Fujinami struggled in 2023 (a 6.57 ERA between the two), their past track records are positive, and with the new pitching lab, the Mets hope they can hone in on their successes.
However, Fujinami has three minor league options remaining, which is why he doesn’t crack the roster. He also got a late start in camp due to visa issues, so might not even be ready for Opening Day. The Mets may want to hone Fujinami’s craft a bit more in the minors. Instead, they take on two long relievers in Tonkin and fan favorite, Reid-Foley.
With this current bullpen, the Mets can see what they have in their pitchers and decide whether to call on players like Nate Lavender or Grant Hartwig.
Near Misses
27. Nate Lavender/Shintaro Fujinami
28. Trayce Thompson
29. José Buttó/Joey Lucchesi
30. Luke Voit/Ji-Man Choi
Lavender has been lights out in spring training thus far, but will most likely begin the year in Syracuse. However, the lefty will see MLB time this season; it’s just a matter of when. Butto and Lucchesi will make their Mets appearances at some point during the year, whether it be filling in for injury or a shift to the bullpen. Trayce Thompson has been one of the best hitters for the Mets this spring. He’s .500/.600/1.375 through five games with two home runs and six RBIs. However, the outfield is crowded, but he’s next man up should the team.
Of course, not everyone can make the team right off the bat. People will complain, argue, and be left dumbfounded. However, the season is long, things happen, and whoever you thought should’ve made the opening day roster will most likely be in Queens before you know it.
