Steady NY Mets plan with Luis Robert Jr. implies rethinking the ideal bench

What should the New York Mets bench look like? In the universal DH universe, you get a different choice than the traditional backup catch, two infielders, and two outfielders.

The Mets will undoubtedly go into the year with at least a second-string catcher plus someone who can play the infield and another for the outfield. The situation we’re trending toward would have Luis Torrens, Tyrone Taylor, and either Brett Baty or Mark Vientos (depending on who starts) as three of those spots. It’s that last bench seat where the debate rages.

The Mets have been candid about their Luis Robert Jr. plans. They aren’t rushing him into games. The goal is to keep him healthy. In doing so, they should reconsider what their ideal bench looks like. Related to last year’s Opening Day roster, they don’t need a surplus of infielders around.

The Mets should continue to remain cautious with Luis Robert Jr. to keep him healthy, it starts with an Opening Day roster direction

Baty is kind of thought of as an outfielder, but until we actually see him out in right field, it’s just an idea. Having him available for it isn’t a bad thing. Actually tossing him out there is something entirely different.

With Baty’s history at third base and success enough at second base, he is your super utility man. Forget about Vidal Brujan. This is what Baty should be even in situations where he is starting games. The only con is the Mets aren’t in a place to have him change positions mid-game whenever he’s the DH. When you do that, you lose the DH and your pitcher then becomes a hitter in the lineup.

The Robert plan should have Taylor as a more usable option in center field in the early part of the year and maybe throughout 2026 with Robert maybe sitting a little more regularly to stay fresh. Carson Benge shouldn’t be out of the question as a center field option either. To void the lineup from having too many offensive holes, it’s a reason why they should consider Mike Tauchman more heavily.

Last year’s Mets had five infielders and six outfielders break camp on the Opening Day roster. Two of the of the latter were Starling Marte and Jesse Winker who were more DHs than anything. Still, it was heavy outfield and light on the infield. The Mets can get away with this because of Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco. Each has experience at other places around the diamond. In the case of a major injury, you dip into your depth.

The two big questions, one about Lindor’s health and the other about whether Benge is ready, is where any sort of commitment to this gets shaky. If Lindor is out to begin the year, the Mets may have a greater need for an infielder. They can move Bichette to shortstop and Baty to third base. The problem here is you don’t have any infield depth whatsoever if Polanco is at first base and Mark Vientos is your DH.

Protecting the health of certain players sounds important to the Mets who’ll give Polanco some time off to begin spring training as well. With Robert, there are some questions in regards to skill. He is coming off of two down years. It’s not out of the question for Benge in center field and Tauchman in right field to give you the best lineup possible at a given point.

At first glance, it would be Benge or Tauchman for the Opening Day roster. Maybe not so much. Creating options early on for the best lineup possible should be something for the Mets to consider. Robert sitting once a week to begin the year isn’t outrageous with Benge in center field and Tauchman in right field. Benge can get additional time off if needed in favor of Tauchman. Maybe versus a tough lefty you give Taylor the start in right field.

It’s not a platoon, more so a rotation of players. The Mets are a better team with players who will actually play as opposed to ones on the fringe of the roster who’ll be situational. They can keep Robert healthy without Benge or Tauchman. With the pair, they seem more capable of putting together a competitive lineup.