5 NY Mets players Brett Baty can unintentionally block from the Opening Day roster

Brett Baty went from starting third baseman to left fielder to right fielder to who really knows? He has spent time at first base this spring as well, clogging up an already crowded position. Of all the players on the New York Mets roster, no one will influence roster decisions more than he will.

Baty will surely have an influence at first base with shared duties alongside Mark Vientos and Jorge Polanco. While those two are guaranteed to make the club, these other five are not.

Brett Baty's versatility can influence what the Mets do with any of these players

1) Vidal Brujan

Do the Mets really need Vidal Brujan? Under any circumstance, with or without Francisco Lindor, he doesn’t really do a whole lot. Tyrone Taylor will be their best runner off the bench. Brujan isn’t an effective enough fielder at positions where they’ll need him. Baty would be the ideal defensive replacement late in games for Bo Bichette at third base. What purpose does Brujan serve other than to give them a handful of games at shortstop? Baty’s utility man status can make Brujan easily forgotten.

2) Mike Tauchman

This is where the conversation gets more intriguing. Can the Mets carry Baty and Mike Tauchman together on the same roster? It’s getting pretty congested. Tauchman is a proven major leaguer and someone the Mets can benefit from having around as a part-time player under a variety of circumstances. However, if Baty ends up showing he’s good enough to at least take a part of the time in right field, how does Tauchman really fit in? A plan of having Carson Benge in center field at times to give Luis Robert Jr. time off can easily include Baty in right field with Polanco and Vientos flip-flopping between first base and DH. I like Tauchman, but it’s really difficult to see how he gets much playing time.

3) Ronny Mauricio

The starting third baseman for the Mets in 2027 will be…who knows? Baty seems like a good prediction. Ronny Mauricio should be a man on a mission to take that job. The only way Mauricio makes the Mets roster is if Lindor is on the IL. Even then, moving Bichette to shortstop and Baty over to third base is the easiest fix. Sorry, Ronny. That’s what they’re going to do.

4) MJ Melendez

MJ Melendez has had a fine spring. He’s not making the Mets Opening Day roster. They signed him to a split contract for a purpose. Still optional to the minor leagues, look for Melendez to be a more situational player when he does spend any time in the majors. He’ll be a good injury replacement. Out of camp, there really isn’t a whole lot he can do unless injuries pile up and/or Baty looks horrendous in right field.

5) Carson Benge

We need to mention Benge again, right? I don’t think Baty will actually block Benge from making the team. The only way this happens is if the Mets were never serious about Benge earning an Opening Day roster spot. The team seems likely to begin the year with Baty as the backup right fielder with Benge or Tauchman starting. Baty is a much more mild factor here. He can give the Mets an excuse to not start Benge.