The biggest Mets storylines as spring training enters the home stretch
The biggest Mets storylines as spring training enters the home stretch
Plus, the Mets prepare to face the Cardinals after having an off day on Monday...
What’s up with the Mets? 🍎
The Mets were off on Monday - camp was completely closed to the media
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns appeared on the Meet At The Apple Podcast, the clubs official podcast (LISTEN)
Injury Updates 🏥
2B Jeff McNeil (biceps soreness) took some minor league at-bats and is still on track to make his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday
RHP Sean Reid-Foley (arm fatigue) has resumed playing catch and will begin to ramp up on Tuesday, with the goal to return to game action by the weekend
Today’s Game 🗓️
Match-Up: Mets (11-10) vs. Cardinals (9-9)
Where: Clover Park - Port Saint Lucie, FL
Starters: TBD vs. RHP Lance Lynn (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
When: 1:10 PM EDT
Where To Watch: SNY
Key storylines to watch for during the home stretch of spring training ✍️
It isn’t very often that we get an off day during spring training, and this will be the last one before the Mets get two days off before Opening Day next week.
As a result, it’s the perfect time to dive into some juicy storylines that should dominate the Mets universe throughout the remainder of spring training…
Reinforcements
It remains likely the Mets will enter the 2024 regular season with what they’ve got. Despite holding reported talks with free agent slugger J.D. Martinez, the front office seem determined to put all their faith in their in-house options.
However, a lot can change in a week in baseball, and we will see if anything happens over the never several days that forces a change of heart. It is unlikely, but if certain players continue to struggle or, God forbid, injuries hit, then we could see a couple of new faces added to the roster.
I’m still holding out hope Martinez ultimately ends up in Queens, but that is probably more wishful thinking at this point.
As an aside, the main goal for the Mets over the next week or so will be to keep everyone healthy as Opening Day edges closer and closer. At this point, nothing else matters other than keeping everyone intact.
Hope for the best
We could get some concrete news regarding Kodai Senga’s health before spring training is done, and the Mets will be hoping for a positive update to head into Opening Day with.
Senga (shoulder strain) is currently on track to return at some point in early May, but that is dependent on no further setbacks. As long as the right-hander’s MRI comes back clean, then the mood should be fairly positive around Citi Field come the start of the regular season.
However, if another setback is placed in Senga’s way, and he’s shutdown again, then expect there to be a gargantuan, gloomy cloud hanging over this team on Opening Day. And nobody wants that.
Finishing strong
The last week or so of spring training will take on extra importance for two key Mets in particular.
Starling Marte has endured a miserable camp thus far, with the veteran currently hitting just .143/.200/.143/.343 in 30 plate appearances. And then there is Jeff McNeil, who hasn’t even played in a Grapefruit League game yet due to biceps soreness.
Given that both players had down years in 2023, it goes without saying that the final eight games of spring training really will mean something extra to Marte and McNeil, with the latter set to make his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday. This next week will act as a dress rehearsal of sorts for the duo as they look to blow off any rust and get into a groove ready for Opening Day.
If the Mets are to challenge for a Wild Card spot in 2024, they will need big-time contributions from Marte and McNeil, who will both benefit physically and mentally from having a strong finish to spring.
Stepping up
The continued development of Brett Baty and Mark Vientos was one of the biggest storylines entering spring training, and it will continue to be as we enter the home stretch. To say neither player has really grabbed the bull by the horns would be an understatement, although Vientos did impress on Sunday with a three-run homer against the Marlins.
However, the righty-bat is still hitting just .200/.234/.511/.745, and that just isn’t going to get the job done at the DH spot. As for Baty, his slash line of .237/.293/.342/.635 with one homer and three RBIs doesn’t exactly paint a pretty picture, either.
Both Vientos and Baty have hardly been consistent at the plate throughout spring training, which doesn’t inspire confidence when it comes to projecting what they will do at DH and third base respectively over the course of a full 162-game season. With the front office adamant that they will get the full year to prove what they can do, we will need to see a lot more from Baty and Vientos as we get ready to wave goodbye to spring. A strong final eight games of spring will do wonders for their confidence, as well as for the confidence of everyone in and around the Mets.
Battle Royale
The closer we get to the end of camp, the more intense the battle for the final few roster spots becomes. As of writing this, there are still question marks over the final spot in the rotation, the backend of the bullpen, the DH, third-base and the bench.
As it pertains to the starting rotation, the fight for the No. 5 job is still very much up in the air. Tylor Megill looked to be in the driver’s seat before an ugly outing on Sunday, where he allowed four earned runs on five hits over 3 2/3 innings against the Nationals. That keeps the door wide open for José Buttó, who has allowed just one earned run on nine hits in 10 innings of work. That is a battle that should go down right to the wire.
There looks to be several contenders for just one or two jobs in the bullpen, and it will be fun to see the likes of Yohan Ramírez and Shintaro Fujinami slug it out over the final eight games. The bullpen has been a real weakness for this team over the past couple of years, and it remains to be seen if a group with so many question marks outside of Edwin Díaz can flip that narrative.
In terms of the other open jobs, Baty will likely begin 2024 as the third baseman, while Vientos will be the DH. Behind them, the battle for the bench will get really interesting down the stretch. DJ Stewart has struggled greatly - .167/.306/.267/.573 - and he’s now likely to begin the year in the minors. Ji-Man Choi has been excellent this spring, going 6-for-27 with one homer, two doubles and four RBIs. He could sneak into the Opening Day roster if Vientos continues to struggle. As for the rest of the bench candidates, Tyrone Taylor, Joey Wendle and Omar Narváez look the likely options but a lot can change in eight games.
Starting pitching
I will once again declare that it’s silly to put too much stock into spring training results. Therefore, the fact that Mets pitchers leads MLB in ERA (3.09) this spring shouldn’t be anything to get too giddy over.
However, what will be interesting is if the starting pitching holds up over the final week of spring training and into Opening Day. There have been some cracks as of late with Megill and José Quintana struggling in their last respective outings, while Adrian Houser also allowed four runs in his last start.
Luis Severino has remained stellar, posting a pristine 1.00 ERA through three starts, but it is what you do in the regular season that counts. In saying that, the final eight games of spring training will be a big test for this starting rotation as it looks to be defy expectations and be a strength for the Mets in 2024.
Overall, I for one am glad that the spring training slog is nearly done with and we can all soon look forward to meaningful baseball. However, there are enough compelling storylines out on the buffet table to make the next week or so that little bit more intriguing.
Around The League 🚩
LHP Blake Snell signed a two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants (New York Post)
INF DJ LeMahieu has a “pretty significant” bone bruise in his right foot, per Yankees manager Aaron Boone (The Athletic)
OF Byron Buxton was scratched from the Twins’ game on Monday due to low back rightness on the right side
Former Mets manager Buck Showalter is returning to MLB Network as an analyst (The Athletic)
RHP Gavin Stone was informed that he will be the Dodgers’ fifth starter to begin the 2024 season
RHP Trevor Bauer announced that he will be pitching against the Yankees for the Diablos Rojos in an exhibition game later this month
MLB announced the inaugural All-Spring Breakout Teams (MLB.com)
INF Cole Tucker has been granted his release by the Mariners (MLB.com)
Reds OF TJ Friedl will be out for an extended period of time with a wrist fracture (Cincinnati Enquirer)
OF Jackson Chourio - the No. 2 prospect in baseball - will be on the Opening Day roster for the Brewers (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
Special shoutout today to Homage, a big fan of Just Mets who was kind enough to send us some cool, vintage-styled Mets swag ahead of Opening Day. Be sure to check out their line of awesome Mets gear as well as gear for all sports teams.
