4 under the radar Mets who could play crucial roles in 2022

2. NY Mets Relief Pitcher Drew Smith

While the Mets undoubtedly need to add to the bullpen, they do have some pieces in place that could make a difference this upcoming season. It is no secret that the bullpen was one of the team's biggest weaknesses last season, and the loss of Aaron Loup to the Phillies will no doubt be a tough blow. However, with pieces such as Edwin Diaz, Seth Lugo, Miguel Castro, and Trevor May in place the team does have some talent to work with.

However, the one player who could truly be a difference-maker for the team this season is Drew Smith. Smith may not be a huge household name, but the young right-hander pitched well last season, and if he can continue the success he showed last year, he can be a real asset for the rotation.

According to Baseball Reference, Smith threw 41.1 innings last year for the Mets, in which he went 3-1 with a 2.41 ERA and 41 strikeouts. Since he came up to the big leagues late, Smith is 28-years old but has very little mileage on his arm as a typical reliever his age would have. He has good velocity, and has shown poise in his time in the major leagues, two key factors that could bode well for him this season.

If Smith can pitch like he did last season, he will add another strong piece to the bullpen, which will hope to have bounce-back seasons from both Lugo and May. Those three, in addition to Diaz, Castro and potential left-hander added via Free Agency and the Mets could have a pretty solid bullpen next season.

3. NY Mets Starting Pitcher Tylor Megill

The Mets boast one of the best one-two punches in recent history with Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer atop the rotation. Add to that high upside pitchers like Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker and the Mets have the makings of a potentially lethal starting rotation. However, we've seen this story before, as the Mets built a championship-contending team built on pitching just a few years ago and health was an issue. All of the top four have faced injury concerns over the past two years, and that can't be ignored.

While the Mets will undoubtedly add another starter to the backend of the rotation to ensure that they have someone who can eat some innings, the team must have backup plans in place. The past few years the Mets have seen numerous pitchers go down and they have proven that you can never have too much depth. Enter Tylor Megill who was thrust into the rotation last year after a multitude of injuries and pitched admirably, showing flashes of being a pitcher the Mets can rely upon.

According to Baseball Reference, Megill tallied 89.2 innings pitched, while logging 99 strikeouts and a 4.52 ERA. While on the surface the numbers don't look great, the ERA was inflated by a handful of bad starts by a pitcher who didn't log a ton of innings. He showed flashes of being a high quality major league starter, and while it's unlikely he will pitch as dominantly as he did in his first few starts, it's also unlikely he will pitch as bad as he did towards the back end of the season.

If Megill can show even half of the way he pitched for most of last year, he will be a key cog for the Mets this season, as there is no doubt at least one pitcher will hit the Injured List at some point this season. Combine him with David Peterson, Jordan Yamamoto, Joey Lucchesi, and Trevor Williams, and the Mets could have some valuable starting pitching depth behind their talented rotation.

4. NY Mets Second Baseman/ DH Robinson Cano

While the rest of the names on this list are much lesser-known names, that doesn't mean that Robinson Cano isn't an X-Factor this year. While the veteran second baseman was once one of the top players in the league, Cano is now a 39-year old making big money, coming off of his second PED suspension. It is fair to question whether or not the veteran can still contribute at a high level.

However, with the addition of the designated hitter to the National League, more regular playing time for Cano appears likely. Unlike the other candidates for the DH, such as J.D. Davis, Dom Smith, and Jeff McNeill, the team will be unable to trade him, so he will be a piece of their roster one way or another. While he will likely have some games sprinkled in at second base, he will likely spend most of his time as a DH, when he does start.

If the team doesn't add another bat via free agency or trade, the best potential option for the Mets at DH is to go a revolving door, where everyone gets a game at DH when they need a rest, while the majority of the time is spent as a platoon between Cano and Davis. Cano could play against right-handers, while Davis could play against left-handers, while allowing the two to not play the field often, since neither is expected to add much value to the team with their gloves in 2022.

Whether or not Cano can still hit remains to be seen, but during the pandemic shortened season, Cano proved that he can still swing the bat. According to Baseball Reference, Cano hit .316 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, and a .352 OBP in 2020, while playing in 49 games. Obviously he was suspended for the use of PEDs after that season, but if he can contribute anything close to that stat line this season, he can be a valuable piece for this Mets team, while also serving as a veteran presence in the clubhouse

Clearly, the Mets have the star power and some potential sleeper pieces that could make them a legitimate contender this offseason. Ultimately, it will come down to if the team can stay healthy enough to make a deep run, as it is no secret that this team has struggled to stay healthy over the years.