3 Mets players who've moved down the depth chart in December

The lack of actual games being played hasn't stopped some returning New York Mets players from dropping down the depth chart. As new players enter, the holdovers from last season will see themselves become more irrelevant at least on paper.

Specifically in one fell swoop, the Mets knocked three players down the depth chart. The presence of Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor have these three looking up at a roster spot that once looked like it belonged to them.

1) Tylor Megill

Houser has taken over the role Tylor Megill could have had. Both righties can be viewed as fifth starters. The Mets have a couple of those. Houser and Megill sharing the same handedness only adds to how much further back the latter now finds himself.

Megill's exact placement in the 2024 plans was never clear. The early assumption to make was he'd either win a fifth starter job, begin the year in the minors, or move to the bullpen. The Mets haven't shown any signs of making him a permanent reliever. With this in mind, Megill is most likely headed for Syracuse to begin the year if the team can keep its rotation healthy. Luckily for Megill, it takes far more than five starters to get through a season.

Zero remaining minor league options for Houser makes him a guarantee to begin the year with the big league club. Megill, whom the Mets can demote without having to DFA, seems destined for a minor league sentence to begin the season. A rotation featuring both Houser and Megill to begin the year isn’t happening unless bodies are stacking up on the IL.