Dream NY Mets starting lineup for the 2026 season

What does your dream New York Mets starting lineup look like for the 2026 season? And when the word dream is tossed out there, we really mean it. Have it be fantastical. Throw away most of your logic but accept there will be some players coming back who might not be the best at their position. Rogers Hornsby is out at second base.

Using some sense of realism but also getting greedy, we can assemble a potential top offense for the Mets this coming year. Keeping in mind some players might even end up being replaced midseason and the Mets shouldn’t use all of their financial or trade assets into just the position players, we have a starting 9 that every pitcher should fear.

If the Mets are going to build a dream lineup within some sense of reason, these are the nine who’d be perfect.

Batting first Francisco Lindor, SS

As sensible as it may be to try something else in the leadoff spot, the structure of this dream Mets lineup will have Francisco Lindor batting at the top once again. Coming off of his second 30/30 season in three seasons, Lindor’s balance of power and speed has been an effective asset at the top of the lineup. Statistically, it could make sense to have someone else there. The heart says something else.

Arguments to move Lindor out of the leadoff spot are only suitable if the team (Lindor specifically) is struggling or someone clearly better is a fit. The days of seeing anyone else hit here regularly seem to have passed by. They never tried to have Juan Soto bat leadoff. Brandon Nimmo has evolved into more of a middle of the order bat in recent seasons rather than a natural leadoff hitter with amazing OBP abilities.

In year 6 with the Mets, Lindor should once again have his name written at the top of the lineup card. The change, which amazingly didn’t even occur until close to midway through 2024, feels as permanent as it gets.