NY Mets: This is the perfect lineup for the 2021 season

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) General manager Sandy Alderson of the New York Mets speaks to the media before a game against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field on September 17, 2013 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Giants defeated the Mets 8-5. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) General manager Sandy Alderson of the New York Mets speaks to the media before a game against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field on September 17, 2013 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Giants defeated the Mets 8-5. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 08: Michael Conforto #30 of the New York Mets at bat against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field on September 08, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

Michael Conforto – RF

Conforto enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2020 which saw him slash .322/.412/.515 with nine home runs and 32 RBI. What Conforto had brought to the table in the past, was great 30+ home run power, but not as many trips on base. This year, he had his highest batting average ever by 43 points and highest on-base percentage by 28 points.

The season which saw his career highs in those categories was 2017, and he was an all-star that year. With the increase in those stats, the power was still there which was huge. Conforto proved that he can be the star player the Mets always thought he could be, and needs to be extended as soon as possible.

I believe the biggest improvement Conforto made was his production against left-handers. Conforto slashed .284/.384/.486 against southpaws with four of his nine home runs. This is far better than his career slash line of .232/.311/.408 against left-handers. Conforto excelled at using left field and not giving the appearance of going for home runs. I think Conforto was on a mission to get on base as much as possible this season and excelled at doing that. I expect Conforto to build off that and have a monstrous full season.

He slots in perfectly in the cleanup spot in this Mets lineup. He provides a lot of power and should drive in plenty of runs behind a top three of Nimmo, McNeil, and Alonso. He would slot in behind right-handed-hitting Alonso and in front of right-handed-hitting George Springer, to maintain a righty lefty balance. Conforto should be one of the driving forces behind an elite offense in 2021.