Three Mets 40-man roster questions heading into Opening Day

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JUPITER, FLORIDA – MARCH 17: Jacob Barnes #40 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium on March 17, 2021 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Opening Day for the New York Mets is approaching quickly. As we get closer, we’ll have a clearer picture of what the team will look like to open the season.

Injuries, demotions, and possible surprises all lie ahead for the men who make up the 40-man roster. These guys, all eligible for big league action, come in a variety of shapes, experiences, and abilities.

In what will hopefully be the beginning of a new era in Flushing baseball, there are three questions I’m curious about when it comes to the 40-man roster.

Mets 40-man roster question: Does Jacob Barnes keep his spot?

Jacob Barnes is a guy nobody has talked about much this winter as a candidate to crack the team’s Opening Day bullpen. Out of options to the minor leagues, his fate is either on the Opening Day roster or in the DFA line.

Barnes doesn’t have a fantastic resume, but he has seen plenty of action this spring. It seems the Mets want to know for sure whether or not he fits into the future plans. Personally, I have my doubts.

However, Barnes hasn’t been written off quite yet. There are a few spots in the bullpen we can question, even those belonging to guys on major league contracts.

If Barnes pitches well in the final days of spring, the club could keep him on the 40-man roster and as part of the 26-man army they have ready on Opening Day. Because he has a little more experience in the majors than some other guys, he may get a chance ahead of them.

Barnes has been a part of the Mets 40-man roster nearly all offseason long. In these final days, does he retain his position on it?

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.

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA – MARCH 16: Dellin Betances #68 of the New York Mets warms up in the fifth inning during the spring training game against the Houston Astros at Clover Park on March 16, 2021 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Mets 40-man roster question: Is an unexpected cut coming?

Between now and the start of the 2022 season, I’m curious to see if the Mets part with Robinson Cano. Way before we can start wondering about that, is there a chance the Mets make an unexpected 40-man roster cut before this year’s Opening Day?

Unexpected would come in the form of guys on major league contracts. Anyone with minor league options isn’t surprising. There’s usually a reason for it.

The two biggest potential cuts we could see are Jeurys Familia and Dellin Betances. While unlikely, if it makes the team better, it might be something the front office does at least consider.

Familia is far less likely than Betances because of the salary implication. Familia is set to make $11.66 million. Meanwhile, Betances is at about half that number with a $6 million deal for 2021.

None of the position players look to be in any danger of losing their 40-man roster spot. Plenty of pitchers could.

Someone like Daniel Zamora who never seems to get major league innings or even a newcomer such as Stephen Tarpley are potential 40-man roster casualties. One of the longer-tenured Mets, Robert Gsellman, is also a dark horse candidate to get cut. I wouldn’t expect it, but his time with the club certainly feels limited.

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The Mets will have plenty of questions to answer this year in regards to the 40-man roster. In these final days before regular season baseball starts, these are just a few rattling around in my brain.

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