Mets news you may have missed: Exhibition games showcasing pitching depth

Well folks, Spring Training is finally here, and for the first time since February 2019, baseball fans across the league will be watching exhibition games once the calendar flips to March. Last week, the New York Mets capped off a busy offseason with a pair of major league signings that brought in veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar and starting pitcher Taijuan Walker, who they remained linked to throughout most of the offseason.

Even with these nail-and-hammer signings, perhaps the biggest question mark lingering over this ballclub is how the front office will finalize their pitching staff; particularly as it concerns the back end of their rotation and bullpen assignments.

So, with baseball just around the corner, here is this week’s Mets news you may have missed!

Mets pitching staff yet to be finalized, remains competitive

The arrival of pitchers and catchers at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida introduced fans to the Mets newest players: SS Francisco Lindor, C James McCann, RHP Trevor May, LHP Aaron Loup, SP Sam McWilliams, OF José Martínez, OF Albert Almora Jr., INF Jonathan Villar, OF Kevin Pillar, and SP Taijuan Walker among other notable non-roster invitees.

This collection of new talent also signaled an increased level of competition for the 26 spots on the Mets Opening Day roster.

Without counting the non-roster invitees, the Mets invited a total of 24 pitchers to camp, and from that pool only 13 of them are likely to earn a spot on the main roster.

Yes, Jacob deGrom will be the ace of this staff – that much we have always known. But with Noah Syndergaard out until June (earliest), the pitchers who toe the rubber after the No. 1 pitcher in baseball have yet to be finalized.

Sure, fans are guaranteed to see Marcus Stroman, Carlos Carrasco, and the recently signed Walker each taking the mound this season. But in what order, and more importantly, with which teammate anchoring the rotation?

While Mets fans were hyper-focused on signing SP Trevor Bauer and OF George Springer this winter, their front office made a series of surprising depth moves in the final few weeks of the offseason instead.

In terms of their rotation, one of these moves included RHP Jordan Yamamoto who, at age 24, could shore up the back end of the rotation when needed. However, I doubt he will see many starts this season unless they’re spot-starts in the case of injuries.

With the team’s lack of left-handed pitching since trading Steve Matz to the Toronto Blue Jays, surely LHP David Peterson has to already be penciled into the rotation – or at least informed that it’s his spot to lose, right?

In his debut season, the young southpaw beat expectations by going 6-2 in 9 starts while maintaining a 3.44 ERA, and limiting opposing batters to a .202 batting average.

The same could also be said for LHP Joey Lucchesi who is looking to remake his career in Flushing after being traded to the Mets back in January. However, with a career 4.21 ERA through his 3 MLB seasons, improving his game will be critical if he wishes to earn a roster spot on a Mets team currently overflowing with starting pitching options.

By Opening Day, I expect the rotation to feature: Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman, David Peterson, and Taijuan Walker as the fifth man. Noah Syndergaard’s return is bound to turn the rotation into a six-man staff in June unless the team opens the season with one or someone else finds themselves on the IL.

In that case, Lucchesi could be the next man up to anchor the rotation and provide the rotational depth this club might need down the stretch.

I also expect the bullpen to house: Edwin Díaz as closer, Dellin Betances, Jeurys Familia, Trevor May, Robert Gsellman, Drew Smith, and Aaron Loup – with Seth Lugo expected to return to action sometime in May.

Unlike last year, I don’t see Miguel Castro, Franklyn Kilome, or Daniel Zamora making the cut despite being highly utilized members of last year’s squad. Other pitchers they added to major league deals like Yamamoto and Sam McWilliams will likely join these arms in Triple-A if there are options on their contracts to call them up later in the season.

As part of Major League Baseball’s celebration of Black History Month, fan-favorite Dominic Smith hosted baseball legend, Barry Bonds during an MLB Instagram Livestream this past week.

The pair discussed a range of topics, including Smith getting advice on his swing. As most fans are probably aware, big things lie ahead for the 25-year-old.

In 2020, Smith saw increased playing time during the league’s truncated season. Through 177 at-bats, Smith racked 32 extra-base hits and 42 RBIs while maintaining a slash line of .377/.616/.993.

What’s most striking about Smith’s 2020 performance is his production value. With more consistent playing time he eclipsed his 2019 totals, and in fewer games too!

Smith had the same number of at-bats in 2020 as he did in 2019 despite playing in fewer games (50) than he did in 2019 (89).

This shows that with regular playing time, Smith is developing into the player the organization hoped he would when they drafted him No. 11 overall in the 2013 MLB first-year player draft.

With a full season ahead of him in 2021, Smith is primed for 30 home runs and 90 RBIs while maintaining an above .300 BA.

Moreover, as most lineup projections for this upcoming season have him pegged for the sixth spot in the Mets batting order, Smith’s slash line could see a bump with the newfound protection now hitting around him.

Smith is a young, dynamic, and energetic talent who will be a lynchpin in the Mets championship aspirations this season. Ultimately, time will tell, but Smith’s participation in major league video series and overall leadership show that the future ahead is a bright one for this kid.

Davis steals third while Smith bonds with idol on Instagram livestream

Despite a last ditch effort to place a call-in to several teams about a trade to upgrade their third base position, none of the newly acquired Mets are expected to be manning the hot corner this season. Instead, it appears J.D. Davis will be slotted into the role of the Mets everyday third baseman.

His hitting remains his redeeming attribute, slashing .307/.369/.527 along with a total of 22 home runs during his breakout 2019 season.

However, to be the everyday third baseman, his fielding will need to improve from last year’s -8 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) stat as he joins an infield already infused with defense up the middle – and Lindor to his left.

And regular reps at the position will surely help him do just that.

Overall, with a strong performance this spring, Davis should be ready to be the everyday third baseman come Opening Day, especially with super-utility player, Jonathon Villar coming off the bench to spell him every few days.