Mets Offseason To-Do List: Five grocery list items to check off

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 24: Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets throws the ball to infield during the fifth inning of their game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 24, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

The offseason is a time for teams to revamp the roster. For the New York Mets, these are five items they need to address on their to-do list.

The New York Mets didn’t make the 2019 postseason despite a valiant effort to contend late into September. The team looks like it’s capable of competing in 2020, but first, we’ll have to go through another winter.

The MLB offseason may bore some fans. For me, it’s one of the most exciting times of the year. Rosters change, trades are made, and dreamers can dream about a better season in the near future.

In Brodie Van Wagenen’s second offseason with the team, he has a grocery list of items to check off. It may not be nearly as long as it was last winter when the roster was a little more questionable. BVW can consider himself lucky. While these tasks aren’t the easiest, he knows which aisles to shop in.

Make a decision on who plays center field

Who will play center field for the Mets on Opening Day 2020? Ever since Carlos Beltran left, the team hasn’t had a truly reliable man play the position. Juan Lagares has been the most frequent starter at the position on Opening Day. He’ll likely leave via free agency and if he did return, he’s not getting the start in game one.

So, the Mets need to decide on what direction they go at this position. Do they keep it in-house and let Brandon Nimmo or Michael Conforto play the position to begin the year? Is one of this offseason’s big storylines about Amed Rosario’s transition to the outfield?

The Mets have plenty of options without actually making a transaction. However, none of the players they have under team control are regarded as “true center fielders.”

Whatever it is the Mets decide to do, they need to make a firm decision early on in the offseason. Before the best free agents sign or any available via trade swap uniforms, they need to know if their starting center fielder for 2020 already resides on their roster.

If I had to predict, I think the Mets end up starting Conforto in center field and add one veteran or younger player to the roster as a fifth outfielder. How long Conforto stays at the position will depend a lot on his defense.

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