Projected NY Mets starting lineup after stunning signing of Bo Bichette

Color us shocked! Rather than sit out the remainder of the major free agent market, the New York Mets have decided to give Bo Bichette a massive 3-year deal worth $126 million. It’s probably more short-term than long with opt-outs included.

There are a lot of thoughts simmering as a result of the signing. The fallout will be major in Queens. It’ll affect other teams, too. Where do the Philadelphia Phillies turn now? Who do the Mets subtract?

In either case, we have a lineup to put together. What does the current lineup look like?

The current projected Mets starting lineup for Opening Day

Here’s what FanGraphs had to say:

1) Francisco Lindor, SS
2) Juan Soto RF
3) Bo Bichette, 3B
4) Jorge Polanco, 1B
5) Marcus Semien, 2B
6) Brett Baty, DH
7) Francisco Alvarez, C
8) Carson Benge, LF
9) Tyrone Taylor, CF

There are obvious flaws here. For what it’s worth, Brett Baty is in a platoon with Mark Vientos at the DH spot. A semi-platoon can work, but a full-blown one no longer suffices. One of them is on the trade block and Baty has the value right now.

If we’re only allowed to use current Mets players, this is probably close to the lineup they’d begin the season with. There aren’t too many better ways to rearrange it although a few things feel likely to happen.

Subtract Baty. Use him in a trade as quickly as you can for a left field or starting pitcher solution. They could do the same with Vientos (and should) but the return doesn’t feel like it’ll get them all that much in comparison to Baty.

I’d still question Carson Benge making the team out of camp. Are they really going to have him start in left field? There’s at least one more veteran to bring in.

Marcus Semien batting fifth feels a lot better than where FanGraphs had him previously, second. Jorge Polanco as the cleanup hitter still doesn’t feel quite perfect which is why it would be beneficial if the Mets somehow managed to nab a left-handed hitting outfielder to plug into the middle of the lineup and move everyone down. Ideally, Benge takes over center field full-time from Tyrone Taylor and it’s someone else who gives them regular innings in left field.

Bichette seems to bring added balance and opportunities to the Mets that Kyle Tucker wouldn’t have. Awe struck from it still, this lineup feels destined to make one more additional move. That’s when we’ll get real excited.