METS ADAPTING
Breaking down what Amazin’ lineup might look like when Opening Day finally arrives
Before a national emergency put baseball — and all professional sports — on hold, Mets players were raring for Opening Day.
The Mets didn’t make too many changes to their roster this past offseason. GM Brodie Van Wagenen’s biggest splash, a year after he snatched Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz from the Mariners, came in the form of right-handed reliever Dellin Betances, who was still strikingly rusty in spring training.
With familiar faces returning to the clubhouse, the same faces that forced baseball enthusiasts to tune in last September for a sneak peek of the close-knit team culture, the Mets were not only prepared, but eager to host the defending champion Nationals at Citi Field today. Now, with Major League Baseball postponed indefinitely, the Mets have a chance to begin the season — if or when it starts — with a stronger, healthier squad.
Here’s how the Mets’ Opening Day lineup would’ve looked if the season had started on schedule:
Brandon Nimmo, RF Jeff McNeil, 3B Pete Alonso, 1B Robinson Cano, 2B J.D. Davis, LF Wilson Ramos, C Amed Rosario, SS Jake Marisnick, CF
With Michael Conforto rehabbing from a Grade 1 right oblique strain, Marisnick would have slid into center field and Nimmo would have moved to right. Conforto’s injury was going to complicate the cleanup spot, which was likely to feature Cano most days. With Rosario, Marisnick and the starting pitcher representing the bottom of the lineup, the Mets offense could’ve been sharpened, but was still shaping up to be solid.
Here’s how that lineup could change if a shortened season (likely packed with doubleheaders) begins in the
Brandon Nimmo, CF Jeff McNeil, 3B Pete Alonso, 1B Yoenis Cespedes, LF Michael Conforto, RF Robinson Cano, 2B Wilson Ramos, C Amed Rosario, SS
The big additions here are, of course, Cespedes and Conforto. Cespedes had not appeared in an exhibition game before spring training was suspended, but he was ramping up baseball activity as camp went on. It’s possible he could be healthy enough to start in left field if the season began in June or July. Conforto, by that time, should reasonably have recovered from his oblique strain. In this scenario, J.D. Davis would be demoted to the bench.
Starting rotation, for March 26 and the shortened season:
Jacob deGrom Marcus Stroman Rick Porcello Steven Matz Michael Wacha
The Mets rotation is not likely to change after Noah Syndergaard tore his right UCL and was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. The club entered spring camp with a six-man rotation, where Wacha seemed likely to land in the bullpen, but Syndergaard’s lost 2020 season fixed that dilemma. Don’t be surprised if minor-league southpaw David Peterson, who manager Luis Rojas constantly praised in spring, joins that group toward the end of the season.
Bullpen, for March 26 and the shortened season:
Edwin Diaz
Seth Lugo Jeurys Familia Dellin Betances Justin Wilson Brad Brach Robert Gsellman Paul Sewald (possible 26-man addition)
Again, not much would change for Mets relievers between March and mid-summer as long as Betances was as healthy as the Mets suggested. Betances struggled with his fastball command and velocity (topping out with a tame 90 mph heater) during spring training. But Rojas said, despite the rusty appearances, Betances was always included on the Opening Day roster. The difference here for the Mets is the expansion of the 26-man roster, which could allow them to carry an extra reliever like Sewald or Daniel
Zamora.
Bench, for March 26:
Dominic Smith Tomas Nido
Luis Guillorme
Matt Adams
Andres Gimenez
Since Marisnick and Davis were both set to be in the outfield in this scenario, Gimenez would have snuck onto the Mets bench in anticipation of his big-league debut, provided Jed Lowrie was still not ready for Opening Day. Lowrie did not appear in a single Grapefruit League game, though he participated in all team workouts (including batting practice) while wearing a bulky brace on his left leg.
Bench, for the shortened season:
Jed Lowrie
J.D. Davis
Dominic Smith Tomas Nido
Matt Adams
Jake Marisnick (possible 26man addition)
In this scenario, Marisnick and Davis would be relegated to the bench with Cespedes and Conforto starting in the outfield.
Lowrie should be fully healthy to return to the 26man roster by summer and the Mets could feature six players on the bench if they opt out of an extra arm in the bullpen. If the club decides to go with a more traditional five-man bench, Marisnick could be demoted to the minors.