NY Mets finally listen to advice Keith Hernandez offered the Yankees back in 2024

It was the summer of 2024 when the New York Mets were hosting the New York Yankees. Keith Hernandez was on his perch commenting about how with the Citi Field dimensions the way they were, Juan Soto should be in left field instead of right field.

It took a full season. Finally, after hiding this move up their sleeve, the Mets are indeed moving Soto across the outfield over to left field.

So what now with the defensive alignment for the Mets?

Right field is the open position which is a bit different than left field in terms of what you want from your player. A little more range and a stronger arm feels like a requirement. Brett Baty in left field felt manageable. Right field feels tougher to buy into.

This adds pressure onto Carson Benge to actually make the club. He has played slightly more right field than left field in his minor league career, devoting most of his time to center field. That’s the good news.

This change feels like the best long-term plan with the biggest hiccup coming along if Benge isn’t ready for big league action. Tyrone Taylor has played right field enough to handle the spot. A trade in spring training for another right fielder feels unlikely with Benge so close to the majors. In free agency, there are players like Max Kepler, Randal Grichuk, and our old friend Michael Conforto who could be a match on some level.

While the Soto position change has the kind of fallout that isn’t really bad news, the update on Francisco Lindor wasn’t promising. At worst it looks like he could miss a few weeks. The team is optimistic he will be ready for Opening Day.

Any sort of IL stint for Lindor has a different kind of fallout. Ronny Mauricio probably makes the team. He or Bo Bichette move over to shortstop. Baty becomes an automatic candidate to play third base again.

Just when you think you know what the Mets roster is going to look like, joints sprain and conversations happen about a position change.