3 NY Mets players on the verge of becoming virtually unneeded until someone gets hurt

The New York Mets made it through spring training relatively unscathed. Mike Tauchman wasn’t even on the 40-man roster so we can’t even really consider him as a victim of spring training ailments. They’ll be unable to go the full season without injury hurdles.

Until those pulled muscles, sprained joints, and stiff fascia knock anyone aside for 10+ days, these three players will find it hard to get regular playing time.

Three Mets players who don’t really have much of a role right now

1) Sean Manaea

Sean Manaea made his season debut in relief of Nolan McLean which wasn’t exactly what everyone had in mind. The plan, if you were going to make a preseason prediction, would have had him at least subbing in for Kodai Senga in relief as the piggybacker behind the questionable Mets ace.

Manaea went 1.1 innings in his season debut and while seemingly available to replace Senga in his debut, the Mets didn’t have the need to call upon their demoted starter. Where does this leave Manaea? Right now it’s a guessing game where he might be as useful in high-leverage spots against lefty hitters with the needed availability to carry them for 3+ innings in relief when any starter blows up.

2) Tyrone Taylor

Tyrone Taylor was the last Mets position player on the major league roster to get a start. In game six, their first against a lefty starter, he played right field. Not necessarily ideal, it was a way to make use of a player on the roster whose role is diminishing because of Carson Benge’s ability to play right field and the team’s belief in Brett Baty as a right fielder at times.

Taylor feels mostly like a pinch running candidate at this point. In blowouts he might replace Juan Soto in left field. He could get an occasional start in center field, but so far it looks like the Mets would rather put in Benge when Luis Robert Jr. needs time off. His right field opportunities may need to come exclusively against lefty starters. However, the more Baty hits lefties and the presence of some other choices as the season progresses could have Taylor relegated to minimal chances.

3) MJ Melendez

We’re going to dip into the minor leagues for our final choice. Mark Vientos, despite the belief of many, can still and should get at-bats against left-handed pitchers. What about MJ Melendez? Coming off a year spent mostly in the minors and undazzling major league results in recent years, it’s going to require an injury or two for Melendez to crack any major league playing time with the Mets.

Jared Young has already shown where he has an advantage over Melendez. Young’s ability to play first base has already given him a start in place of Jorge Polanco. It’s debatable who is the better player between Young and Melendez. The defensive experience edge goes to Young. The return of Tauchman and presence of other outfielders on the Mets depth chart such as Tommy Pham only make it more difficult for Melendez to ever get to the majors. The more time Brett Baty spends in right field doesn’t bode well for Melendez. A prolonged slump from Benge can have the Mets swapping the two. Even then, Melendez will remain on a short leash.