NY Mets have already sealed up one mildly questionable roster spot for 2026

One mild New York Mets spring training competition has already been closed up. Well, sort of.

The addition of Tobias Myers has gotten increasingly more exciting as we’ve gotten to know the player and realize the potential roles he can fill. The Mets have a variety of ways to use him this year. One won’t be as minor league depth.

Despite a desire to stretch him out this spring, the Mets don’t plan to demote him. He’s going to be on the MLB roster one way or another. Whether it’s as a starter or reliever will be dependent on health.

It may still take two injuries before we see Tobias Myers in the rotation

The Mets currently have a rotation stacked six starters deep. The increasingly common practice of having more than five starters is something they’ll be stuck with, but maybe that’s actually what they would prefer after all. The presence of Kodai Senga assures us they’ll need a sixth starter at least some of the time. Myers is perfect already for this kind of role.

Losing two starters in spring training isn’t out of the question. The Mets placed Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea on the IL last year before Opening Day. Paul Blackburn, who would’ve had a role more in-line with what the Mets hope to get out of Myers, joined them right before the season began.

A guaranteed roster spot for Myers does have some fallout. Three bullpen spots seemed up for grabs with one headed Myers’ way. Huascar Brazoban has another and Bryan Hudson is an assumed challenger for the third. This group doesn’t include Craig Kimbrel whose status as a non-roster invitee poses an early challenge.

One starting pitcher injury can have the Mets simply using Myers in relief until he’s needed as a starter and rolling with a five-man rotation. They’re probably better equipped in this format than with a permanent six-man rotation and only a 7-man bullpen.

Myers may be guaranteed a roster spot out of camp, but that last remaining option should get used at least once. As long as the Mets don’t keep him in the minor leagues for 20 days, they can retain it for next year. He's a long-term guy they can utilize for a number of years. Unless he gives them a reason not to stick around, and keep his third minor league option available into next year, expect a variety of ways for him to get into games.