Mets have no reason to get locked into the same lineup every day

The New York Mets are fortunate to have a deep MLB roster with multiple players who can perform at more than one position. They have no reason to get locked into just one starting lineup.

An advantage the New York Mets have heading into the year is an abundance of flexibility. Both on defense and in the lineup, this roster has a variety of directions it can go each game.

In the lineup itself, the team has three contenders to bat first. Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo’s OBP prowess make them early frontrunners, but a spectacular year from Amed Rosario could add his name into the mix. Rosario has the speed teams want at the top. If his ability to reach base improves, he has a chance to usurp the leadoff role.

Even in the middle of the order, the Mets have an opportunity to mix things up. Lineups aren’t nearly as traditional as they once were. Pete Alonso opened 2019 batting second. It’s not ridiculous to see him hit there again at some point in 2020 despite everyone knowing the kind of major league power he possesses.

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More likely, we see Alonso hitting third or fourth with Michael Conforto routinely batting anywhere from three through six.

Other sluggers like Yoenis Cespedes and J.D. Davis will find their way into the middle of the order as should Wilson Ramos and Robinson Cano.

It’s Cano who throws off most of the roster. Because of loyalty, respect, or just not wanting to hurt feelings, we shouldn’t expect the Mets to demote him too soon. Numbers may eventually win out and Cano could see his spot in the order fall.

On the defensive side of things, it’s a little more fun to look at all of the different alignments the Mets may have this year. We already know McNeil’s ability to play anywhere. Davis and Dominic Smith could also see action at their weaker positions: third base and left field respectively.

There’s also an X-factor on the bench who may or may not have any impact whatsoever on the team’s record. Jed Lowrie arrived to the Mets last year with a resume that included time at multiple infield positions. If the team can get anything out of him this year, we could see Lowrie fill in at a multitude of spots as needed.

I won’t hold my breath on Lowrie. Instead, I expect Luis Guillorme to supply the Mets with infield versatility the same way Jake Marisnick will provide the organization with center field stability.

When your options stink, a Major League Baseball team often has to resort to creative thinking. The Mets don’t need a creative bone in Luis Rojas’ lineup-card-writing hand to make things work. With the talent they have, it’s hard to really go wrong.

Obviously, it’s up to the players to perform in order for this to all work. The position players need to score runs and the pitchers need to do their job on the mound.

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Most of all, everyone needs to stay healthy. Although the Mets have some superb depth in the major leagues, they don’t have a plethora of big league talent down in the minors. Resting players appropriately and not letting anyone worsen a minor injury is key. One way to do this is to use the wide array of players they have on a regular basis and avoid getting locked into a routine and too familiar lineup.