Three Mets 40-man roster questions heading into Opening Day

Feb 23, 2021; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) watches relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) deliver a pitch during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2021; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) watches relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) deliver a pitch during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports /
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PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 08: Ronny Mauricio #2 of the New York Mets in action against the Houston Astros during a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Mets 40-man roster question: Which position player is most likely to find his way onto the roster?

The Mets 40-man roster is heavy on pitching and very light on position players. Patrick Mazeika (catcher), Jose Martinez (infielder), and Khalil Lee (outfielder) are the three who won’t open the season on the 26-man roster but have a spot on the 40-man.

Mazeika and Lee will begin the year in the minors with Martinez placed on the IL to start things off. This feels like a light amount of position players on the 40-man. Eventually, as the need arises, the Mets will need to make a few changes.

I don’t expect anything to change before Opening Day. Shortly into the season, we might see the Mets knock off a pitcher from the 40-man roster in favor of a bat.

Candidates with major league experience include utility man Jose Peraza, infielder Brandon Drury, and outfielder Mallex Smith. Because the Triple-A season won’t begin at the same time as the MLB season, guys without major league experience will have to wait to prove themselves.

This probably isn’t the year we see notable prospects like Ronny Mauricio make the leap to the major leagues. Instead, any position player we see added to the 40-man roster will probably come in the form of these veterans the Mets signed during the offseason.