The best Mets starting lineup they can put together without Carlos Correa

The Carlos Correa sweepstakes have finally come to an end, so we think. The two-time All-Star shortstop has agreed to return to the Minnesota Twins on a six-year, $200 million deal. This deal comes after Correa had multiple 10+ year deals voided due to issues with his physical. One of the teams that, for some time, were in agreement with Correa was the New York Mets. 

After the Amazins had already put together a fantastic offseason, Owner Steve Cohen decided to make one more splash by giving Correa $315 million over 12 years. After the Mets saw issues with the ankle of the 28 year old, the two sides tried to negotiate but could never agree to terms. 

So, now that the Mets saw Carlos Correa come and go in the span of three weeks, they now find themselves on the lookout for the final piece of the puzzle once again.

The NY Mets have multiple options to replace what Carlos Correa was going to bring

The Mets won 101 games in 2022. In case anyone forgot, Carlos Correa was not a member of that team. Pete Alonso is fresh off a 40 HR, 131 RBI season and Francisco Lindor, who found his form again after a rough 2021, is here to stay, as is Brandon Nimmo, who’s set to begin playing under an 8-year $162 million contract. Jeff McNeil, fresh off a season in which he hit .326, will be plugged right into the middle of New York’s order once again. 

The Mets are going to be returning a plethora of key guys who made huge contributions to last year’s success. However, most fans still have fresh memories of how 2022 came to a close. 

So far this offseason, the Mets revamped their starting rotation while also adding a couple of arms to the bullpen. As for the lineup, it looks pretty similar. That’s not necessarily the worst thing after reading the points made above, but if you’re someone who thinks New York needs more, there are still plenty of options. 

The Mets have some studs at the top of their farm system but as we know, prospects don’t always work out. It's happened before where young guys with high expectations get to the big leagues and do nothing but fail. Mets fans, of course, all hope that’s not the case with Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez, but for the glass half empty fans out there, the free agent market isn’t completely empty just yet. 

If Alvarez isn’t going to be given the job, the Mets need a right-handed DH. After the failure of the Darin Ruf experiment, New York is still looking. Well, luckily for them, Trey Mancini is still available. In his first five full seasons, the 30 year old is a career .265 hitter with 125 HRs. Sure his home run numbers have dipped over the last couple of seasons but the pop is still there and the Mets could use it. 

If the Mets were to make this signing, here's what the lineup could look like:

1. Brandon Nimmo
2. Starling Marte
3. Francisco Lindor
4. Pete Alonso
5. Jeff McNeil
6. Trey Mancini/Daniel Vogelbach
7. Mark Canha
8. Eduardo Escobar
9. Tomas Nido/Francisco Alvarez

A lineup that includes Nimmo, Marte, Lindor, and Alonso at the top, with McNeil, Mancini/Vogelbach, Canha, Escobar, and Nido/Alvarez has all the potential in the world to be lethal.

So don’t panic Mets fans. This team will still be a really good team in 2023 and if they add someone like Mancini, those World Series odds won’t dip so far.