For the second time this offseason, lets take a look what the Mets lineup would like if the season started today. Last time we did this, the Mets had yet to make a move. Let’s take a look:
Catcher: Travis d’Arnaud
First Base: Ike Davis / Lucas Duda (Formerly: Ike Davis / Josh Satin)
Second Base: Daniel Murphy
Shortstop: Ruben Tejada (Formerly Omar Quintanilla / Ruben Tejada)
Third Base: David Wright
Left Field: Chris Young / Eric Young Jr. (Formerly Eric Young Jr. / Matt den dekker)
Center Field: Juan Lagares
Right Field: Curtis Granderson (Formerly Lucas Duda, now at 1B)
Stating Rotation:
Jon Niese
Zack Wheeler
Dillon Gee
Bartolo Colon (Formerly Carlos Torres)
Jenry Mejia
Bullpen:
Bobby Parnell
Vic Black
Scott Rice
Gonzalez German
Carlos Torres
J. Familia
Big changes. This team looks lot better than it did in November. Granderson and Chris Young add a ton of defense to the outfield that already has one of the objectively best defenders from last season in Juan Lagares. This bumps Eric Young Jr. into a low ratio platoon in the outfield, which is not like before. Between C Young/Granderson/Duda there is now a potential for a lot more power in the lineup.
This brings us to the second largest change, Granderson bumps Duda to 1B leaving the Mets with two players at the bag and Josh Satin. The only hole this lineup has now is shortstop and there is still time for that to change either through trade, free agency or hope that Tejada can return to his old self.
The starting rotation also went through a make over that bumped Carlos Torres back the bullpen via Bartolo Colon. If Syndegaard or Montero come up through the 2014 season and do well, this could be a strong rotation. Before Colon, they both needed to do this, which would be improbable. Also the 2015 rotation that has Harvey in it now looks great.
The only area of the team that has not changed yet is the bullpen.
The Mets are quite close to being relevant with this lineup, especially if Chris Young can have a great season.
