2 Mets prospects, 3 veterans in the minors who will be key for the team in the first half

NY Mets will find many ways to use Danny Mendick this season

Even more versatile than Baty is veteran infielder Danny Mendick. It wouldn’t be outrageous for the Mets to even use him in the outfield at some point this year if needed. Most of his MLB career has been spent as a middle infielder with innings other places as well.

Mendick is intriguing for more than how many positions he can play. He’s coming off of a .289/.343/.443 season with the Chicago White Sox. Has his bat improved enough to stick in Major League Baseball?

Mendick is a little redundant on the Mets roster with Luis Guillorme around and the ability of Jeff McNeil to offer the team innings as an outfielder. He’d be a viable starter up the middle and maybe a platoon partner with Guillorme if the team did lose McNeil or Francisco Lindor.

This savvy Mets signing works well, too, because of Mendick’s remaining minor league options. This isn’t a case where they’d promote him only to immediately place him on the roster bubble with a DFA in his future. He’s a guy to keep all year long and flip between the majors and minors as needed.

Guys like him always seem to end up playing a lot more than expected. He’s also an alternative option over Baty if the team doesn’t feel like the slugging prospect is quite ready. He is, but we know how Billy Eppler operates.