Evaluating the potential alternatives to Francisco Lindor

David Stearns has built up infield depth during the offseason, which will immediately be tested if Francisco Lindor has to miss time

What’s Up with the Mets? 🌴

• Both 1B Jorge Polanco and 3B Bo Bichette got work in at their new positions (Daily News)

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Roster Moves 🗞️

• Signed OF MJ Melendez to a one year contract

• Transferred RHP Tylor Megill to the 60-day injured list

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What I’m Reading 📰

• RHP Craig Kimbrel wants to prove he still has more to give at the major league level with the Mets (MLB.com)

• OF Carson Benge has the right demeanor to handle the pressure of the major leagues and playing in New York (The Athletic)

• Could SS Francisco Lindor’s power be affected by the hamate bone surgery he underwent (SNY)

• LHP Bryan Hudson made a strong first impression in camp (NY Post)

• Managers will each have one challenge in extra innings under new rules with the ABS challenge system (ESPN)

• What would baseball look like with a potential salary cap (The Athletic)

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🌴 SPRING TRAINING IS HERE! 🌴

Mets pitchers and catchers are now officially in camp. The full squad’s first workout is on Monday, February 16th.

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The internal candidates to temporarily replace Francisco Lindor ✍️

AP Photo

Mets camp kicked off on a bit of a sour note when the team revealed that Francisco Lindor would need surgery to remove the hamate bone in his left hand after tests concluded he had a stress reaction in the bone.

Even so, the team is optimistic that he will be ready for Opening Day. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Lindor would be able to resume full baseball activities after his stitches come out, and Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said on Tuesday that Lindor would likely be able to play in Grapefruit League games sometime in March, assuming his recovery goes well and there are no setbacks.

Still, there’s always a chance Lindor isn’t ready and would need extra time in extended spring training to get ready, especially after both Corbin Carroll of the Diamondbacks and Jackson Holliday of the Orioles had the same procedure this week and have already been ruled out for Opening Day, although Holliday had the issue in his right hand/throwing while Carroll also had the injury on his right hand, but like Lindor, it is his non-throwing hand.

Stearns also said on Tuesday the Mets will prepare for Lindor’s absence to extend into the season, and will consider internal options as his temporary replacement, hinting they would not yet be looking outside the organization for help, for now. They’re still going to plan on Lindor being available on Opening Day, and as his recovery progresses, they will adjust that plan as needed with the options currently in camp.

NY Post

As of now anyway, Bo Bichette will not be considered in this scenario despite having been a regular shortstop with the Blue Jays. Clearly, the Mets want him to focus on his new position at third base and don’t want that development hindered over the six weeks of spring training. That makes sense, especially if Lindor’s absence would be relatively short - there’s no reason to deviate from the plan for Bichette if Lindor only has to miss a few days at the start of the season.

Of course, as Opening Day approaches, teams will DFA veteran players to make room on their roster for others they will need on the 40-man roster for when the season begins, and it would behoove the Mets to at least consider bringing in additional depth options no matter what.

For what it’s worth, old friend Jose Iglesias is still a free agent, but he struggled last season with the Padres, and a reunion is probably unlikely anyway.

So, who are those options?

1. Ronny Mauricio - Mauricio has yet to show much offensively at the major league level, but the 24-year-old is still young and has enough potential where he could fill in on a short-term basis, especially since he was a plus-defender in a small sample last season at third base. In 61 games in the majors last year, he hit .226/.293/.369 with an OPS of .663 with six home runs and 10 RBI. His potential power is tantalizing, and he could slot into the bottom of this year’s revamped lineup. With the addition of Jorge Polanco, Bo Bichette, and Marcus Seimen, and with Juan Soto in his second year in Queens, there are plenty of other hitters in the lineup that can carry the load in the beginning of the season. If anything, this will be another opportunity for Mauricio to show what he can do at the big-league level and if he deserves a spot on the roster once Lindor returns.

2. Vidal Bruján - The Mets acquired Bruján from the Twins for infield depth after they traded away Luisangel Acuña for Luis Robert Jr. Brujan bounced between three teams last season and hit .253/.305/.310 with an OPS of .616 in 60 games. He’s not going to hit for any power, but he’s a veteran that can fill in for the short term and on a part-time basis over the course of a 162-game season.

3. Jackson Cluff, Grae Kessinger, and Christian Arroyo - This trio theoretically could steal a spot on the team with an outstanding spring. Cluff and Arroyo were both signed to minor league contracts, and Kessinger is a former Astros prospect they signed in the offseason. Arroyo has the most major league experience out of the three and probably has the best chance among this group to make the team should there be other injuries to the infield.

While losing Lindor certainly hurts, hopefully, it won’t be for long. And again, at least one of these options could emerge as Lindor’s backup no matter what, inclusive of Mauricio, who could serve as a backup at three positions on the infield. On paper, Brujan or Mauricio would seem like the obvious alternatives to Lindor if he has to miss time since they’re on the roster now, but Mauricio’s performance in camp and whether or not his baseball IQ in particular has evolved might be the determining factors for him.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Phillies released OF Nick Castellanos after the relationship between the player and the team deteriorated last season (The Athletic)

• Diamondbacks OF Corbin Caroll was already back at camp after undergoing surgery on his broken hamate bone (MLB.com)

• The Yankees reportedly signed RHP Rafael Montero to a minor league deal (NY Post)

• Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler is dealing with back inflammation and a lat issue but he is hopeful he can return to the mound soon (ESPN)

• MLB owners voted on a new rule to keep base coaches in their boxes until after the pitch is thrown to cut down on pitch tipping (ESPN)

• The Angels are bringing Chris Taylor to spring training (NY Post)