Ranking the 5 options the Mets have when rosters go from 28 to 26

4) The Mets should DFA Travis Jankowski

Travis Jankowski is a good problem for the Mets to have. He was the extra position player they opened the season with. Because he can play defense well in the outfield and has actually hit, the Mets have to consider keeping him around.

Unfortunately, he lacks minor league options. This means the team would have to designate him for assignment and risk losing him on waivers. Even if he did pass through, he’d have to later be added back to the 40-man roster with another transaction.

Whether or not Jankowski would pass through waivers is unknown. Given how well he has played, he probably wouldn’t.

Jankowski isn’t someone who should necessarily back the Mets into a corner with their roster decisions. He’s a solid fifth outfielder.

The issue they face is the lack of defensive abilities from Davis and Smith in the outfield. Jeff McNeil has been able to get into the mix often this season, but moving him away from second base opens up a bigger hole for the club. More on that later!

It would be a tough luck situation for Jankowski to play this well for the Mets only to see him lose his job. Something to keep in mind: he was never meant to play this well. Realistically, there may only be one way for him to stick around.