Mets: Conforto, Kelly on Opening Day roster as Lagares, Nimmo likely to DL

The Mets have already made their starting rotation known for Opening Day, and even though the rest of the roster hasn’t experienced any real serious injuries, a couple minor ones are impacting its shape.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson spoke with reporters Thursday morning and told them the team is more than likely to put outfielders Juan Lagares and Brandon Nimmo on the disabled list to start the season.

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The corresponding moves to both Lagares and Nimmo being out is, of course, getting Michael Conforto and Ty Kelly to fly north instead of west to start the season on the Opening Day roster.

Conforto is unlikely to get regular playing, unfortunately. So while this decision is the right one for the team given the injuries, it might not be the best for Conforto. I’m still holding out hope that I’m wrong and that manager Terry Collins finds some at bats for the kid, but at this point in time it doesn’t seem likely.

Conforto may get a chance to come in late in games as a defensive replacement to substitute Jay Bruce or Curtis Granderson, but even that might be a stretch. His defense has improved, and he has a strong spring start, but for now, the Mets seem to be as confused as the rest of us as to what to do with him.

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As far as Ty Kelly is concerned, he’s more versatile, and has shown he can be somewhat effective coming off the bench to pinch hit or be a defensive replacement, so I’m not worried at all about him.

We have four days to go until Opening Day, and the Mets roster is almost set. Monday can’t get here fast enough.