5 Mets players who won’t make the Opening Day roster but will have an impact in 2023

The New York Mets will have a couple of roster decisions to make before Opening Day arrives. There isn’t much room for navigation. For the most part, outside of injuries, we know exactly who will or won’t join the team when they jump into the season against the Miami Marlins.

Just because a player isn’t on the Opening Day roster doesn’t mean they won’t turn into an important piece at some point. These five already looked destined to begin the year in the minor leagues where they will wait for a promotion and have an impact later on.

An honorable mention should go out to some questionable Opening Day roster candidates like Brett Baty, David Peterson, and Tylor Megill along with possibly a few others. They remain contenders for the Opening Day roster so they’re left off this list. The same cannot be said about these other five.

1) Tommy Hunter will be in the minors waiting for his Mets promotion

Tommy Hunter has been pretty awesome for the Mets. Back again this season on a minor league deal, Hunter is a non-roster invitee with a lifetime 1.78 ERA in 30.1 innings of work for the Mets. He has battled through injuries over the last several seasons, spending all of his big league innings with the Amazins in 2021 and 2022.

Adding Hunter to the Opening Day roster makes little sense with his lack of minor league options remaining. He’s cavalry. He’s someone the club can turn to later on in the year for a prolonged stretch. He’ll be on the roster bubble from the start, unable to get demoted again unless the team is willing to DFA him and allow other clubs to claim him off waivers.

In his own way, Hunter has had an impact on the 2021 and 2022 Mets. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021 for Rich Hill. Last year, offering up 22.1 innings later on in the year, he helped give Buck Showalter another valuable arm to turn to.

Sometime in June or July, we can expect Hunter to make his mark on the 2023 Mets just as he has on the club over the past two seasons.

3) Tim Locastro is the outfielder stashed on the Mets farm for one purpose

Tim Locastro has become the new Terrance Gore. His amazing speed is a weapon teams have been harnessing for the last few seasons. His bat, on the other hand, has left a lot to be desired. Through 360 MLB plate appearances he’s a .227/.325/.331 hitter but has managed to swipe 39 bases. His legs keep him employed.

Locastro is an outfielder the Mets should look toward as a September call-up option. Promoting him before rosters expand is risky. He’s on a minor league deal with no options remaining. The ball club will have only one chance to summon him to the big leagues. We shouldn’t expect them to do it early. Locastro is not a good enough hitter to carry for a long period of time.

Strictly for pinch-running duties, Locastro can be a September and October contributor for the 2023 Mets. It’s obvious this is what Billy Eppler signed him to do. Expecting anything else from the 30-year-old journeyman speedster is setting standards too high.

Speed is an unusual weapon in today’s MLB. Guys like Locastro need to do more than run quickly in order to keep a roster spot. Unfortunately, it’s about all he can do at a tremendous rate.

Until the final month of the season nears, we wish Locastro good luck in Syracuse.

4) Bryce Montes de Oca should be the first reliever the Mets turn to for innings

The Mets have several new arms to the organization we could see called up to the big leagues when they are in need of relief. One of the leftovers from last season with some promise of a future with the organization is Bryce Montes de Oca. The 6’7 turns 27 this April and could already be a candidate for the Opening Day roster. I don’t think he gets it. I do believe he’ll make his way onto the roster later on this year when someone is hurt or another guy proves himself unworthy.

Montes de Oca had a successful year in the minors last season, tossing 51.1 innings and doing it with a 3.33 ERA. He saved 11 games on the farm, throwing hard yet wildly. While he did strike out 14 batters per 9, Montes de Oca issued 6.7 walks per 9 as well.

The Mets gave him three games in September to show them what he could offer. His 4 earned runs in only 3.1 innings wasn’t ideal. It’s not nearly enough of a sample to write him off.

New York should be in search of controllable young arms like Montes de Oca. They can’t keep signing veterans forever. This season is one to figure out if he’s someone they can rely on.

Give Montes de Oca some time with Syracuse to close out games. When the Mets are in need of a fireballer, he’s the guy to call.

5) The Mets traded for Jeff Brigham and will intend to use him

Jeff Bringham was an unexciting addition to the Mets this offseason. Since his debut in 2018 with the Miami Marlins, the righty has only tossed 79.2 innings. Last season was promising, though. In 24 frames he was 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA. Will he end up as the better of the two pitchers the Mets acquired from the Marlins?

It’s an easy jump to expect the Mets to have plans for Bringham. You don’t trade for a guy then use him. Fresh arms will be needed at some point in 2023. Bringham is someone we should see among the early choices. He does have MLB experience plus he’s already on the 40-man roster.

Bringham should be considered a candidate for the Opening Day roster, but he’ll have to earn it first. If the Mets carry Elieser Hernandez and one of Tylor Megill or David Peterson, one bullpen spot would remain. Does it get filled by Bringham?

If the Mets add anyone else to their bullpen before Opening Day, Bringham’s chances of making it on the Opening Day roster slim even more. He’ll be one of the first they could turn to for help. There’s no more development needed. He’s nearly 31. He is what he is. Prepare for him to bounce back and forth between the farm and majors this year.