3 players who could wear many hats in their 2023 role with the team

The phrase “wearing many hats” usually refers to someone with a lot of different duties at work. When the guy who scrubs the floor also cuts the deli meat, he’s wearing many hats! Hopefully, he’s an avid hand washer, too. The 2023 New York Mets will have a couple of guys scrubbing floors and cutting meat for them.

Star players typically have one main role on a club. Justin Verlander isn’t going to send the Mets to glory with pinch hits. Pete Alonso won’t find himself out in center field shagging fly balls during a regular season game.

Those stars are on the team with a specific purpose. These other three better save room on their heads. They’ll be wearing a beanie, a bowler, and maybe even a beret.

1) NY Mets utility man Danny Mendick could see action all over the field once healthy

Who needs a utility man when you have Jeff McNeil on your roster? The Mets do. McNeil is a starting second baseman in this league. More than capable of playing both corner outfield positions, the Mets would probably prefer to keep him there as much as they can.

Utility man Danny Mendick is the guy the Mets will call upon to do the versatile thing. Mostly a middle infielder in his career, Mendick has gotten in innings at every position other than catcher during his time with the Chicago White Sox.

Once healthy, Mendick becomes an option for the Mets to have on their major league roster and grab a glove for wherever he is needed. Coming off of a strong offensive performance which saw him hit .289/.343/.443 albeit in only 106 plate appearances, remaining minor league options made him a strong choice for the ball club this offseason.

Mendick will be working his way back from knee surgery with a TBD return date. It would probably take another injury for him to make the Opening Day roster. At some point in 2023, we should see him. The first position he plays is anyone’s guess.

2) NY Mets pitcher Joey Lucchesi could pitch in every situation possible

The Churve is back. Joey Lucchesi is another guy coming off of major surgery ready to play in whatever role the Mets need him. Probably best-equipped to handle a bullpen role, we could see the Mets use him in a variety of situations.

Lucchesi could be a starting pitcher option for them at some point, if only in more of an “opener” situation. Asking him for three frames is feasible when no one else may be available.

Maybe more important is the hat Lucchesi will wear when he spends a majority of his time with the big league Mets as a reliever. The team could have him on the roster strictly as a left-handed option. Alternatively, he could be a long-man. The Mets have options with him. Lucchesi has options himself, meaning, he should be one of several pitchers the team sends back and forth from the majors to the minors to find a fresh arm.

Starter, lefty reliever, and long-man out of the bullpen. These are the three brands of hat Lucchesi will be wearing in 2023.

None should take priority at any point for the Mets. He’ll need to be flexible and so will they. This year is one where everyone needs to accept it’s not about you. That means taking on lesser roles. Lucchesi already seems ready to embrace whatever gig the Mets hand him.