Mets spring bench competition includes four players fighting for the final roster spot

Mets minor league addition, Jose Peraza

Another minor league addition on the right side of 30 brought in this winter is Jose Peraza. Once a promising infielder with speed, Peraza also fell on hard times in recent seasons. He enjoyed some success with the Cincinnati Reds from 2016-2018 before turning in a poor performance in 2019 and an even worse one with the Boston Red Sox in 2020.

Peraza isn’t getting on base as much as he used to. Therefore, he’s not stealing the 20+ bases he did three times in his career.

Fortunately, he does play a lot of infield positions just as Drury does. But this has its own challenge. Villar can play all over the infield as can Guillorme. What purpose would Peraza serve on the Mets outside of an injury?

Certainly a fit for some major league action if someone lands on the IL, there’s a climb he must first successfully make.

Returning Mets outfielder, Guillermo Heredia

Guillermo Heredia might fit in best for what the Mets need. His single option year remaining is important because the Mets now have a choice with him—a literal option!

Does Heredia fill in as a backup outfielder from the start of the season or will they shuttle him to Syracuse/minor league camp? Known as a good defender, Heredia did get some at-bats with the Mets last year. He hit .235 with a pair of home runs which definitely doesn’t guarantee him a thing this season.

However, given Martinez’s limited defensive skills in the outfield, I tend to favor the Mets carrying a more natural player at any of those three spots beyond the infield dirt. For this reason, Heredia feels like a much better fit than Drury or Peraza.

But alas, Heredia does have one other outfielder vying for the same job.