These 3 Mets are in the most danger of losing their roster spot before Opening Day

Jul 13, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of a New York Mets hat and glove in the dugout
Jul 13, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of a New York Mets hat and glove in the dugout / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
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The New York Mets will have a slightly different-looking 40-man roster by the time Opening Day arrives. Questions like who ends up on the 60-day IL to clear a spot or who has lost their job entirely will get their answers.

From the 40-man roster, it’s becoming clear which three players are most likely to be gone before Opening Day. Each has something in common. They can’t be sent to the minors. This makes any patience the organization could have for them minimal.

Will we see all three of them gone before the first game or can one or two keep their spot?

1) NY Mets Rule 5 Draft pick Zach Greene has struggled too much to keep

Rule 5 Draft pick Zach Greene already had the odds stacked against him. The Mets were willing to take a chance and see what he could do up close. A poor start this spring might already be enough for the team to look elsewhere for his Opening Day roster spot.

There is time for Greene to turn things around. And depending on what the coaching staff sees from him away from actual games, maybe he does have a slightly better chance of staying. It’s incredibly doubtful at this point. As little as Spring Training statistics matter, for a reliever like Greene who has yet to reach the majors, they do play a factor and should.

The Mets can only afford to keep one more non-optional reliever aside from the main four of Edwin Diaz, David Robertson, Adam Ottavino, and Brooks Raley plus Drew Smith who does have options. Greene will need an amazing turn around this spring in order to be that guy. If it’s not him, this other reliever could be the one Buck Showalter brings with him to Miami.

2) NY Mets reliever Stephen Nogosek remains only a bullpen contender

Stephen Nogosek is still in the bullpen conversation for Opening Day. Although not a Rule 5 Draft pick, his lack of minor league options makes him a roster bubble guy. He’ll be on the verge of getting designated for assignment from the start in a similar manner as Chasen Shreve last year.

Nogosek pitched very well for the Mets last season—both the New York and Syracuse versions. It looks like he finally found his groove after several years of never really standing out in the minors for this ball club.

Aside from Greene, the biggest competition Nogosek could have is Tommy Hunter. The veteran reliever isn’t even on the 40-man roster at the moment, but could win out. The smarter move would probably be to take Nogosek over Hunter whose recent injury history could leave the Mets with no pitchers at all. At least carrying Nogosek into Opening Day means there is a backup plan that would include Hunter and several other relievers.

The Mets could also view Nogosek’s lack of options as problematic. It could be hard to go the whole season with him on the roster. Do they pull the plug early on or see how long they can ride his successful 2022 season? I’d grab a saddle for as long as he performs well this spring and delay saying goodbye. He's worth a closer look in games that matter.

3) NY Mets DH/1B/RF Darin Ruf needs to show something this spring to stay

Mets fans are united in wanting to see the end of Darin Ruf’s Mets tenure. Last year was, for lack of a better word, rough.

There isn’t much Ruf could do to change our opinions. A hot spring means he’s an exhibition game hero. A cold spring only means we were right—it also sounds refreshing on a hot day.

The only justification for keeping Ruf would be if the Mets lose a position player to an injury. Even then, he’s such a redundant player to have around with Tommy Pham already on the roster. Mark Vientos can do pretty much anything Ruf could. His eventual release or trade is inevitable with three very good-hitting prospects prepared to take a roster spot.

VIentos may not even be the best choice for the Mets to select over Ruf. Brett Baty and his ability to play third base (albeit he does need to improve) plus left field makes him a more effective player to have. The Mets would be swapping out a right-handed hitter for a left-handed one. It’s small potatoes compared to the prediction and the early experience Baty will get.

The Mets made the baseball decision last year to designate Robinson Cano for assignment when rosters shrank from 28 to 26. There won’t be a reason like that to move on from Ruf. Do they need it? His performance has been reason enough. A wrist injury may delay his departure. An IL stint could be in his future.

Next. 3 Mets players we should be more bullish on. dark

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