Returning NY Mets players will create a roster gridlock with no easy solution

For the first time in months, things seemed to be heading in the right direction for the New York Mets. After sweeping the Phillies and going 7-3 over the past ten games, it feels like the tide is turning in the Mets' favor. Everyone on the roster is finally clicking at the same time, and it feels like they're getting hot at the right time.

However, while the roster appeared to be set for the rest of the season, reinforcements appear to be on the way. Both Jose Siri and Jesse Winker are set to begin rehab assignments on Wednesday in Single-A St. Lucie. While it's good that the Mets are becoming healthy and getting back two key players, it creates questions they'll have to answer in September. But how will these two return shake up the roster?

How Jose Siri and Jesse Winker return will create tough decision for the Mets bench

At the start of the season, the plan for Winker and Siri seemed simple: both would be a part of separate platoons. Siri was going to split time with Tyrone Taylor in center field, while Winker was going to be the DH alongside Starling Marte. But with these two missing a significant amount of time, the Mets have pivoted. They acquired Cedric Mullins at the trade deadline to platoon with Taylor. Although there is no permanent solution at DH, guys like Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio have both been given a shot.

With their spots taken, the most logical next step would be for them to be guys off the bench. Winker can be used as a pinch hitter late in the game, and Siri is the perfect pinch runner. However, the problem with that is it would compromise the Mets' infield depth. They're not going to get rid of Taylor's glove, and they gave two Top 30 prospects for Mullins, so he'll remain on the roster, too. The only players you can send down for them are Mauricio and Brett Baty, the only infielders you have on the bench.

A team can't compete without having depth in the infield. What are they supposed to do if someone gets hurt or needs a day off? It's not a smart strategy for a team that needs to have a strong September. It's something that could quickly come back to bite them and cost them a game down the stretch.

The best course of action is to only activate Winker and send down Mauricio. This would also cause Baty to become solely a bench player for the rest of the season. Winker could return to his platoon role with Marte at DH like he had early in the season. He is also much more trustworthy off the bench as a pinch hitter than Siri.

As mentioned before, the only value Siri brings is as a pinch runner, but with Mullins and Taylor, you don't need to add more speed. Both those players have enough speed to rely upon late in the game. Plus, with Siri coming off a fractured tibia, who knows if he'll speed will be what it was at the start of the season.

While this is not an ideal situation, it's the best course of action the Mets can take. It'll give the Mets a power bat off the bench, without ruining their infield depth.