3 under-the-radar Mets roster additions who could get MLB playing time in 2024

2) Rylan Bannon

Although Rylan Bannon doesn’t offer the Mets any roster flexibility at all with his minor league options all depleted, the utility infielder who has already bounced around quite a bit is interesting enough to include on this list. Just seven games at the MLB level under his belt and with three different organizations, Bannon’s positional versatility can make him an option for the Mets. Of course, competing alongside players such as Jose Iglesias and Yolmer Sanchez who are known for their defense can prove to be too much for Bannon to ever get to the majors.

Bannon spent last year with the Houston Astros in Triple-A with the exception of two games in the majors. He batted .241/.360/.449 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI. It’s about what he has done for the last several seasons in the upper minors. Good walk numbers show a plate discipline that helps somewhat mask a few too many strikeouts that aren’t leveled off with huge power totals.

How does he make the Mets roster? It’s probably going to need to take a huge year in Syracuse and maybe a couple of months. He’s a better second baseman than a third baseman so it’s not even all that likely he’d become a candidate for the hot corner.

Even so, the idea of the Mets stealing a minor leaguer away from the Astros (he was also once property of the Atlanta Braves) should have us hopelessly optimistic he’ll have a good enough year in Syracuse to warrant a promotion. Beyond 2024, there’s not much we can really expect from him unless he surprises us all. For this reason, let’s get our answer as to whether or not he can be a useful piece off the bench.