THE RUNDOWN
BEST POSITION BATTLE
Brett Baty (top left) has to be considered the favorite to claim the opening at third base as camp begins, but Mark Vientos (top right) will have an opportunity to compete for the job. Vientos has been regarded as a project defensively, but team officials are encouraged by the work he put in this winter and remain optimistic about his offensive potential. Baty struggled last season — he may have been rushed to the major leagues following his fast start at Triple-A last April and the Mets’ need at third base — but has shown glimpses as somebody who can end the merry-go-round at the position that began with David Wright’s late-career injuries.
MOST INTRIGUING MINOR LEAGUER
Eyes will be affixed to Luisangel Acuña this spring as he attempts to show he’s close to potentially helping the Mets, who acquired the 21-year-old infielder last July in the trade that sent Max Scherzer to Texas. Acuña — whose older brother Ronald was the NL MVP last season with the Braves — is widely regarded as the organization’s No. 3 prospect, behind Jett Williams and Drew Gilbert. There’s a chance Acuña will begin the season at Triple-A Syracuse, perhaps placing him in the conversation for a late-summer call up to the big leagues. On the mound, the Mets will want to thoroughly evaluate right-hander Christian Scott, who has emerged as the organization’s top pitching prospect.
STORY TO WATCH DEVELOP
The Mets whiffed in their pursuit of Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who opted to sign with the Dodgers. It left the Mets with an offseason starting pitching infusion consisting of Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser, all of whom bring question marks to the staff. If the Mets are going to compete, they will need respectable seasons from Severino and Manaea in particular. Can the Mets keep Severino healthy and return him to the star form he displayed at various junctures in his Yankees career? Can Manaea maintain the uptick in velocity that helped him enjoy a strong second half last season with the Giants?
MANAGER’S TOUGHEST CHALLENGE
Carlos Mendoza (right) is a rookie manager thrust into the cauldron of guiding a largely veteran team with a rabid fan base.
The former Yankees bench coach will be charged for the first time with holding difficult conversations with players irritated about playing time or their position in the batting order or starting rotation. And then he will have to explain his decisions to the media, holding twicedaily press briefings. There will be a learning curve for sure.
MOST INTRIGUING NEWCOMER
Severino owns a high-upside arsenal, but the right-hander has to show he can stay healthy. The first step for Severino will be surviving spring training — a stretch of the calendar in which he has a history of physical breakdowns. The former Yankees star arrived on a one-year deal worth $13 million as one of the Mets’ first signings in the offseason.
MOST NOTABLE ABSENCE
Ronny Mauricio was set to compete for the thirdbase job in spring training, but tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Even if Mauricio didn’t win the starting job, the Mets envisioned him as an important piece that could bring power and athleticism to the lineup. If Mauricio — who underwent surgery to repair the knee — plays at all this season, it probably won’t be until September.
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF THIS BECOMES AN ISSUE
Pete Alonso is entering his walk year and might command an elite prospect or two at the trade deadline if the Mets are sputtering and looking to reload for 2025. The Mets showed a willingness to trade stars last year at the deadline, but neither Scherzer nor Justin Verlander was the homegrown favorite that Alonso has become. President of baseball operations David Stearns could be facing a mighty decision after the All-Star break.
BIGGEST COMEBACK
Edwin Diaz (below) spent his first season after receiving a five-year contract worth $102 million rehabbing from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee. The injury occurred in March during a celebration at the World Baseball Classic, delivering a gut punch to the Mets before their season even started. Now Diaz is back with intent to show he’s still the elite presence who emerged as the game’s best closer in 2022. “Narco” will be blaring from the speakers again at Citi Field, but can Diaz recapture his past glory? — Mike Puma