4 most obvious early season DFA candidates on the Mets roster

NY Mets DFA candidate Travis Jankowski

Perhaps the only surprise addition to the Opening Day roster, Travis Jankowski is a very likely DFA candidate. The only thing that could save his job is an injury. But much like the situation Reid-Foley finds himself in, the opening may not be enough for the Mets to convince themselves to carry the limited outfielder.

Jankowski makes sense for the Mets with the extra two roster spots. He can give them speed and defense. When things get cut down, a four-man bench is far more realistic. J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith do have minor league options. However, it’s far more likely the Mets will simply DFA Jankowski and see if he does pass through waivers.

Worth noting: players who are DFA’d don’t always end up leaving the team. Many have and will continue to either accept a minor league assignment or even re-sign with the team once they reach free agency. Jankowski is a little bit different. He is a good enough fifth outfielder. Depending on how injured other teams get, he could be a Billy McKinney for another squad early on in 2022.

Odds are not in favor of Jankowski lasting long with the Mets. His playing time should already be sparse. And even if an injury does occur, the Mets have other options waiting in Triple-A. They should not hesitate to keep someone like Khalil Lee or Nick Plummer in the minor leagues if either one can contribute more than Jankowski.