New York Mets Bench: What it could look like on Opening Day

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PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 05: Ball and gloves of the New York Mets sit in the dugout before a game against the Washington Nationals at Digital Domain Park on March 5, 2012 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Nationals defeated the Mets 3-1. (Photo by Sarah Glenn/Getty Images) /

The New York Mets have plenty of depth heading into the 2020 season. Let’s take a look at what the bench could look like with the players currently with the organization.

With New York Mets Spring Training fast approaching, I know that most baseball fans are starting to get goosebumps with all the anticipation for the 2020 baseball season to finally begin. In a couple of weeks, we will be able to enjoy the bright Florida sun from our televisions as we settle in and watch our first spring training action of the new year. That bright Florida sun does warm up our living rooms, even though the temperature outside is still in the 35 to 40-degree range up in the Northeast.

As a lifelong Queens, New York native the start of spring training will always signify to me the gradual progression of winter into spring and the start of the baseball season.

I am pleased that the Mets roster is filled with young, homegrown talent that should continue to improve and eventually bring us to the promised land. Yes, we could have improved the defense and the bullpen a little more, but coming off 86 wins you don’t want to break what’s not broken.

That being said, I wasn’t looking to have the front office break the entire roster, but to just tweak it a bit, so we can have some better support for our great starting pitching staff. At this moment it does seem like most of the starting spots have been set, with the only questions that remain, being how will the bench come together including this new intriguing 26th man role, which is a new rule that will go into effect this year.

How do you fill that 26th spot? Do you look for a defensive specialist who can backup multiple positions? Do you add a veteran big bat to be an additional pinch hitter in possible clutch situations? Do you carry a third catcher, one that is possibly a defensive stalwart and/or one who can also swing the stick?

Or possibly look for someone with great speed with stolen base talent to get that runner to second base after the leadoff batter walks or singles in the ninth inning? I think that depends on the other four players that are on the bench, so let’s look to break down the bench for the 2020 Mets.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – MAY 24: Jake Marisnick #6 of the Houston Astros hits a home run in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park on May 24, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Jake Marisnick – Fourth Outfielder

Since Jake Marisnick was picked up to improve the defensive of our outfield rotation, he will most likely break camp as the Mets fourth outfielder. Jake will look to spell Brandon Nimmo versus some tough lefties and come in during the late innings to provide us a better defender in center field with then Nimmo going to left field to replace the defensively challenged J.D. Davis.

Over the years Marisnick has proven to have a gold glove caliber glove and some home run power with his bat. The strikeout seems to be his nemesis, but since I am anticipating he will probably receive anywhere from 200 to 300 at-bats throughout the course of the season, his strikeouts won’t hurt too much. His 8 to 15 probable home runs should provide some extra power for the Mets lineup.

Tomas Nido – Backup Catcher

With Tomas Nido out of minor league options (and Rene Rivera being signed to a minor league contract), I am confident that Nido will be looking to lock down the backup catcher role with the 2020 Mets. Nido is a highly rated defensive catcher who is very popular with Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, because of his exceptional receiving, framing and throwing skills.

We do remember all the drama last year when both deGrom and Thor didn’t want starting catcher Wilson Ramos catching their starts, they both looked to Nido to become their personal catcher.

So yes, you lose some offense with Nido behind the plate, but I did see enough progress with his at-bats last year to think he will continue to improve offensively and look to take some playing time away from defensively challenged Ramos.

Personally, I would like to see the catcher position for the Mets in 2020 eventually evolve into more of a 50/50 timeshare. I believe this will help out our pitching staff having a catcher behind the plate who can not only properly receive the pitches but also control the running game.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 29: Dominic Smith #22 of the New York Mets celebrates after hitting a walk-off 3-run home run in the bottom of the eleventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on September 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Dominic Smith – Mostly Pinch Hitter

After all of the trade rumors, Dominic Smith is still on the roster. At this point, unless the right trade comes along, I say we keep on to Smith to start the season so he can play the Matt Franco role of being the top pinch hitter coming off the bench for the Mets.

His 2019 slash line of .282/.355/.525/.881 shows he can hit MLB pitching and also showed he can come off the cold bench and heat up quickly providing clutch hits during the late innings. He is also a superior defender when compared to Pete Alonso and can also be used as a late-inning defensive replacement for the Polar Bear, especially in games that end up being blowouts during the late innings.

Another added bonus is now that Dom has learned to play the outfield, he can add some depth to both corner outfield positions.

Jed Lowrie – Backup Infielder

Now that we have covered the fourth outfielder, main pinch hitter, and backup catcher bench spots, now we need someone who can back up the infield positions. Granted, it looks like we will paying way too much for our utility infielder, but Jed Lowrie in many ways is perfect for this role with his ability to play all four infield positions extremely well.

Put that along with his professional hitting approach at the plate and we have found our super-utility guy, who can not only come in for improved defense up the middle but also allow the Mets to spell the aging Robinson Cano weekly and also allow them to occasionally rest Jeff McNeil or Amed Rosario when rest is needed for those players. I guess some trades are better off not being made.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 30: Eduardo Nunez #36 of the Boston Red Sox fields during the MLB London Series game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox at London Stadium on June 30, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /

The Mystery Man – 26th Roster Spot

That leaves that 26th roster spot still needing to be filled. The leading candidates for this spot includes newly acquired Matt Adams, Yoenis “Wild Boar” Cespedes, Luis Guillorme, Rene Rivera and Eduardo Nunez. With these choices, we have a wide variation of player types to pick from.

Depending on your other bench players, this should be one of the main factors that will go into the decision of who will claim this last roster spot. Out of these possible choices, I think Eduardo Nunez should be the 26th man. The reason for this choice is Nunez offers a skill that none of the other players provide. Speed on the bases. With Nunez’s ability to steal bases, I think he would be the best choice to start the season in this spot.

Personally I would rather have someone like Billy Hamilton for this 26th man role since he is a more accomplished base stealer and can also become the needed 5th outfielder with his impressive defensive skills.

But since the front office has so far decided not to bring Hamilton in for a spring training invite, Nunez will do.

Guys like Matt Adams and Yoenis Cespedes are redundant with what Dom Smith provides, Rene Rivera doesn’t hit enough to make the case for carrying a third catcher and Luis Guillorme doesn’t hit enough to make us want to eat the $10,000,000 we are already paying Lowrie for 2020.

Nothing is set in stone and much can happen from now to the end of spring training. Between injuries and surprise spring training performance, there will always be changes. I am looking forward to seeing how this plays out come March 26th.

Next. Three Michael Conforto predictions for the 2020 season

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