Why this player is a secret weapon for the team in 2023

The New York Mets made some big splashes this offseason. With the highest payroll in baseball, the Mets resigned significant pieces such as Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Diaz, to name a few. They also brought in impact players like reigning Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander and Japanese star Kodai Senga.

While those big names will headline this past offseason, they also made some less popular acquisitions that will majorly impact the upcoming season. For example, some bullpen help, such as David Robertson and Brooks Raley, will help them in the late innings.

However, they made one acquisition this offseason that fans might not think of, but I believe he will be an under-the-radar secret weapon for the team in 2023.

Tim Locastro will be a secret weapon for the Mets this season

Outfielder Tim Locastro signed a minor league deal with the Mets back in January. Locastro has been on a few teams in his career, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and, most recently, the New York Yankees. He has always had a solid glove in the outfield, but his speed is his ultimate strength, and that's where the Mets can use him to their advantage.

Locastro has had an excellent spring training. He has shown that he can put the bat on the ball and has been one of the most pleasantly surprising players this spring. However, even though he had a great spring, I highly doubt that Locastro will make the Opening Day roster which means he'll probably start in AAA Syracuse.

Even if he starts in AAA, that doesn't mean he can't get called up and help the major league club later in the year, and that is why he will be the secret weapon, and he will do so by using his legs. Locastro is one of the fastest players in baseball, and with the new rules baseball introduced this year, he is a perfect fit to steal bases at will.

With the pitcher only allowed 2-3 pick-off moves to first, there will be a rise in baseball's stolen base numbers this year. Manager Buck Showalter and the Mets need to use this to their advantage, and what better way to do so is by using one of the fastest players in baseball? Tim Locastro fits the mold perfectly as a primarily used base runner and stealer, and look out for how the Mets use him later in the season.