3 questions the NY Mets need to answer before Francisco Lindor returns from the IL

When is Francisco Lindor returning from the IL? Grab a calendar from a mall kiosk, open a random page, and point your finger. It’s as good of a guess as any. The New York Mets shortstop is dealing with a grade 2 calf strain, worse than the grade 1 suffered by Juan Soto. To put it bluntly: it’s going to take a while.

In the meantime, the Mets will need to figure a few things out. By the time he does come back, these questions need answers.

The Mets need to figure these questions out before Francisco Lindor heals up

1) What, if any, role does Ronny Mauricio have?

Ronny Mauricio is going to get a long look at shortstop in Lindor’s absence. He won’t bump Lindor to another position. Where else could he belong?

The Mets demoted Mauricio to begin the year to guarantee him playing time. Considered a shortstop, third baseman, and second baseman, all three positions are covered by players the Mets would at least plan to have play as close to 162 games as they can. Mauricio can’t directly replace someone like Brett Baty. The DH spot, potentially opened with Jorge Polanco taking longer to recover than even Lindor, can allow them to get creative. This stand Mauricio will take as the regular shortstop for the Mets could very well be his last. The Mets need some plan for him moving forward.

2) Forget about a six-man rotation, who are five starters they can trust?

Can the Mets actually find five starting pitchers they can trust? Freddy Peralta has been about as good as expected. The same is true for Nolan McLean. Clay Holmes continues to defy expectations and look like one of the better pitchers in the league.

The thought of the Mets rolling into the year with a six-man rotation has fallen by the wayside simply because they don’t have six good starting pitchers. Kodai Senga will take months to regain trust. David Peterson is even further behind and the doubt of him lasting the full year in the rotation will be ever-present. Christian Scott couldn’t find the strike zone in his 2026 debut. Where do they go next? They’re going to have to keep trying different things and hope something clicks.

3) Is Carson Benge the odd-man out or is it someone else?

There are a few players who, in the first month of the season, could be considered the odd man out. Rookie Carson Benge can run. He can field. He has, at times, even shown good plate discipline. More of a purr than a roar to begin his big league career, the Mets can’t keep him around for more weeks without a clear picture of whether he belongs or not. He’s hardly alone in terms of not looking prepared for the haul of the season. Brett Baty is finally showing a pulse. Mark Vientos remains a rollercoaster. Then there are players like Tommy Pham who seem certain to hit the waiver wire.

In a certain circumstance, the Mets could allow Benge to grow into his big league role. Their 12-game losing streak stole a lot of that patience they can afford. The Mets can’t let the question of whether he’s ready or not to loiter throughout Lindor’s IL stint. Before Lindor comes back, as indirectly as they affect each other on the roster, the Mets need to know what he and others contribute. It’s not even related to Lindor replacing them on the roster fully. Some harsh decisions with demotions or even DFA’s shouldn’t wait until the shortstop comes back.

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