3 ways the NY Mets can temporarily fill CF until Carson Benge is MLB ready

Carson Benge is the New York Mets prospect who should be deemed the franchise’s next center field fixture. While Jett Williams has played there for some reps in the minor leagues as well, his defensive versatility likely has him suiting up at second base more regularly.

Benge is at least a few months into the 2026 season away from having a role of any kind with the Mets. Just 24 games in Triple-A last year with a .178 batting average, he wasn’t exactly making his case to be a shocking roster addition coming out of spring training.

So what do the Mets do in the meantime? Here are three ways they can fill the position until he is called up.

1) Tyrone Taylor and anyone else they can fit into the position

This feels like the direction the Mets will go. Tyrone Taylor is under team control for another year. Favoring his defense, having him at the position alongside a mix of players like Jeff McNeil and maybe Luisangel Acuna if they have any faith could hold them steady. Of course, McNeil and Acuna are offseason trade candidates. Brandon Nimmo can certainly fill in at the position on an irregular basis, but if the timeline has Benge waiting around two months or so, the Mets may need a better plan than to redo their Plan-B from 2025.

2) Trade for or even sign Luis Robert Jr.

Luis Robert Jr. has a $20 million team option for the coming season. The subject of trade rumors throughout last year and even sooner, it’s hard to believe the Chicago White Sox will pay him the money. If traded, it’s realistic to think Chicago has to at least chip in a part of the bill. Things get easier if he is non-tendered and becomes a free agent which isn’t impossible. Some team should be willing to give the White Sox a chip. By doing this, the Mets might kick the Benge can down the road a little further if Robert finally puts together another big year; something he only did once in 2023.

3) Sign Cody Bellinger with the plan of using him at multiple positions

A better corner outfielder than center fielder, Cody Bellinger isn’t a bad option to have regularly in center field next season. It’ll take a longer commitment than it would for a player like Robert who’d likely need to settle on a pillow contract. The plan could include signing Bellinger to be a regular in center field, an option in left field when Brandon Nimmo gets days as the DH, and even a solution at first base every once in a while or more regularly depending on the situation there. This feels like the most foolproof way to improve the position while allowing the Mets a fallback option in case of an injury or delay in Benge’s development.