7 NY Mets players who will make the Opening Day roster but will be on thin ice

3) Jose Siri

We’re either going to love him or hate him. Jose Siri will wear a golden sombrero the same day he hits a game-winning home run. He’s going to steal runs with his defense while in the middle of a cold streak. There will be those who have had enough of him by the time April is over. Meanwhile, others will appreciate how often he scores from first base on a double.

In just his first year of arbitration eligibility, the Mets have no necessity to keep Siri around if he’s struggling to pass the tests they throw his way. Exactly how they’ll deploy him in center field alongside Tyrone Taylor remains unseen. Both hit right-handed so there’s no strict platoon. It could very well end up being a choice between who’s hot, how they’ve handled the opposing pitchers, and other factors than blindly believing splits.

While Taylor was able to gain favor and an immediate longer leash from the Mets with his performance last year, Siri gets no such courtesy extended his way. The Mets seized an opportunity to acquire a talented player for a pitcher they didn’t really need, Eric Orze. Siri could end up being a big part of the Mets’ future center field plans or just as easily a guy executed from the roster around Memorial Day.

The Mets do know what they got themselves into. It’ll be interesting to see how long they let the batting average get before making a harsh decision. A part of it might have to do with whether or not any of the young kids look ready for the show.