Mets roster projections 1.0: Which 26 are there on Opening Day?

The New York Mets don’t open the season for a few more weeks. Opening Day roster decisions are far from finalized. Injuries, competitions, and a surprise move or two could drastically change who the Mets bring with them to Miami to face the Marlins in game one of the season.

Knowing what we already do about this team, let’s take an early spring stab at the Opening Day roster. We can circle back later to see what has changed.

NY Mets roster projections 1.0: Early February edition

These are the 26 players the Mets could head into Opening Day with:

Catchers
1. Omar Narvaez
2. Tomas Nido

Infielders
3. Pete Alonso
4. Jeff McNeil
5. Francisco Lindor
6. Eduardo Escobar
7. Daniel Vogelbach
8. Luis Guillorme

Outfielders
9. Mark Canha
10. Brandon Nimmo
11. Starling Marte
12. Tommy Pham

Infielder/Outfielder
13. Darin Ruf

Starting Pitchers
14. Max Scherzer
15. Justin Verlander
16. Jose Quintana
17. Kodai Senga
18. Carlos Carrasco

Relief PItchers
19. Edwin Diaz
20. Adam Ottavino
21. David Robertson
22. Brooks Raley
23. Drew Smith
24. Elieser Hernandez
25. Zach Greene (Rule 5)
26. Jeff Bringham

There aren't too many spots up for grabs. More than four out of five dentists recommend the Mets swap Darin Ruf for Brett Baty. It would require the team to make a late offseason trade or simply cut Ruf. Neither is an impossibility. If Ruf isn't hitting well in the spring and Baty wins a big league job, the team has to make the best baseball decision they can.

The bullpen is where the biggest questions are. Spots 24, 25, and 26 are the only ones we should expect to have a battle. Elieser Hernandez feels like the safest with an ability to be the long-man. Zach Greene, a Rule 5 pick of the Mets, might get the benefit of at least proving himself in the regular seasons.

It's the Mr. Irrelevant spot at number 26 where things get toughest. This added roster spot from the old 25-man crew can go to a variety of players. Jeff Bringham could be a favorite because of his MLB experience. The Mets traded for him along with Hernandez in the early part of the offseason. Unlike a waiver claim where the club would have less to lose if he never sees MLB action, the team could be inclined to give him an early shake.

Two notable pitchers not included are Tylor Megill and David Peterson. As much as I'd love to see one of them stashed in the bullpen, it appears the Mets will keep them stretched out for starts.

The team is bound to suffer at least one injury before the season begins. We'll check back later this month to see how things are trending.