Mets: Three burning questions that need answering this spring

3) How will the center field situation shake out for the New York Mets?

All offseason we had heard how the Mets wanted to upgrade defensively in center field heading into the 2021 season. There was serious interest in George Springer that never materialized, and with the designated hitter not being in play for the National League in 2021, it all but removed the Mets’ chances at signing free agent Jackie Bradley Jr.

Unfortunately, the Mets did not come away with one of the top two center fielders on the free-agent market, which could be viewed as the only legitimate disappointment of the front office’s winter if you were to nitpick due to the need.

The Mets pivoted and signed a low-risk high-upside player in Albert Almora and a proven commodity in center field in Kevin Pillar. While neither player was the splash addition in center field that many Mets fans expected, it certainly provides the Mets with solid defensive options in their crowded outfield, especially late in games with a potential lead.

While we should all expect Brandon Nimmo to make the majority of starts in center field this season barring something unforeseen, such as Nimmo’s defense regressing or an injury, it is worth monitoring how the Mets utilize the center field position late in games.

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While we may not see it displayed early in Spring Training, I fully expect by the end of the spring we should have some sort of idea of how the outfield configuration will be set up late in games, especially with who is manning the center field position in the most critical moments.