Mets minor leaguers we can expect to fight for a roster spot in Spring Training

Daniel Zamora

As of now, the Mets look to go into Spring Training with only one left-handed relief pitcher, Justin Wilson, with the rest of the pen composed of righties.

Having a good left-handed specialist is important for any contending team, especially in the NL East, as the Mets have to play left-handed power bats like Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper, and Juan Soto on a regular basis.

There are a few free agents that the team could bring in, such as Tony Sipp or our old friend Jerry Blevins, but they have a few in-house options as well, with the top option being Daniel Zamora.

Zamora has already had some big league experience, having first been called up in late 2018, where he logged a 3.00 ERA over 16 appearances. He was called up again in 2019 as an injury replacement, however, to varied success. He ended the year with 5.19 ERA as a member of the Mets.

He did perform better with Triple-A Syracuse and currently in the Dominican Winter League, has a 1.93 ERA in 10 outings for what that’s worth.

Additionally, despite his mixed ERA, he has a high strikeout rate in his MLB career, averaging 12.3 Ks per 9 innings. This hopefully shows some promise of better days ahead.

It is highly unlikely that the Mets will last the entire season relying on just one southpaw out of the bullpen. If they need another one, Zamora should definitely be in the mix, and with a strong showing in Spring Training, could force his way into their plans.

Luis Guillorme

With the many trade rumors surrounding Jed Lowrie and Dominic Smith, who are currently slated to be New York’s back up infielder and back up first baseman, an opportunity could open up in 2020 for someone else.

This is another position that could be filled by one of the many veteran free agents still on the market. However, like most clubs, the Mets do have a few minor league players who could vie for that job as well.

One player who could come in to fill those roles is Luis Guillorme. He’s a familiar name for many Mets fans because of the time he did spend with the club over the past two years. This spring, Guillorme may finally crack the Opening Day roster and find his niche with the organization.

Guillorme made his debut for the Mets back in 2018 and served as a backup infielder for the club in late 2019. He has not hit much for average at the major league level, but he was one of the top hitters for Triple-A Syracuse in 2019, batting .307 with a .412 OBP. If he could somehow bring these talents with him to the major leagues, there’s definitely a spot on the roster for him.

A lefty hitter capable of fielding at second, third and shortstop, Guillorme would be a solid option as a backup infielder in the event the spot opens up for him in Spring Training.

Whether Lowrie gets moved or the Mets are struck with a sudden injury, with a strong showing in spring, Guillorme would look to be the next man up from the minors. His slick glovework alone could give him an advantage over other minor league options the team may consider.

Ali Sanchez

One of the Mets needs coming into this offseason that has yet to be addressed was acquiring a new backup catcher. Last season that role on the team was filled by Tomas Nido, who was a fine defensive catcher, however, batted a messily .191 at the plate over the course of 50 games.

While I expect Nido to enter Spring Training in that role once again, the Mets surely should bring in someone to compete with him for the job. There are several free agents who can be invited to compete. However, they do have an intriguing in-house option as well, and his name is Ali Sanchez.

Sanchez was signed by New York back in 2013 as an international free agent when he was 16 years old, and has slowly worked his way up their farm system.

Sanchez has been known as a terrific defensive player throughout his minor league career, but also has shown ability to hit for average at the plate. In 2019, he had a very solid year at the plate for Double-A Binghamton, batting .278 with a .337 OBP.

While the game is played at a much different level in Double-A, it’s not unheard of for players to be called up to the big leagues directly from there. Limited competition for Sanchez within the organization could provide him the opportunity he needs to skip a minor league level.

Sanchez’s 2019 should surely warrant a look in the upcoming Spring Training. If he outperforms Nido at the dish, he could offer the Mets an upgrade behind Wilson Ramos.

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Which Spring Training position battles are you most excited for?