NY Mets: How the lineup would thrive with universal DH

Despite having one of the best-hitting pitchers in baseball in Jacob deGrom, the New York Mets would have one of the most dangerous lineups in the league with universal DH in both the American and National League.

Currently, the lineup consists of Dom Smith, Brandon Nimmo, and Michael Conforto in the outfield, JD Davis at third base, Francisco Lindor at shortstop, Jeff McNeil at second, Pete Alonso at first base, James McCann at catcher, and Javier Báez as a newly-traded infielder.

It’s unclear as to what the Mets will do once Lindor comes back from injury, but they could possibly platoon Conforto and sit him against left-handed pitchers. His batting average is .121 against them this year.

Either way, the Báez addition will make the Mets stronger and more versatile.

That addition even provides the option to help out McNeil at second while he’s going through his leg issues. Next year, the lineup might not look much different. Michael Conforto is eligible for his first year of free agency at the end of the year, but the rest of the starters are either under arbitration/renewable team control or signed through 2022 or later.

It’s also a CBA year and baseball in 2022 hangs in the balance, but one rule change that’s likely to make an appearance is universal use of the Designated Hitter. The Mets could seriously benefit from use of the DH.

Here are a few different alterations of the lineup they could try.