The Mets Opening Day roster has become much clearer...
Carlos Mendoza announced some roster cuts, which offered clarity on the direction of the Opening Day roster
What’s up with the Mets? 🌴
The Mets drew their fourth tie of the spring in a 5-5 game with the Nationals on Saturday (box | highlights)
Tylor Megill started for the Mets and he was so-so - he allowed three runs, six hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5.1 IP
AJ Minter threw a scoreless inning of relief
Hayden Senger - who is positioned to win the backup catcher job out of camp - homered in the seventh inning
Brandon Nimmo doubled and drove in a run as part of his 2-for-4 day, and Francisco Lindor and Jesse Winker each singled and drove in a run a piece
While not official yet, Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Reed Garrett, José Buttó, and Danny Young will be on the opening day roster and Jakson Reetz, Donovan Walton, José Ureña, Chris Devenski and Génesis Cabrera did not make the team, and will be going to Triple-A Syracuse
Mendoza did not yet commit to Minter, Dedniel Núñez, Luisangel Acuña, Brett Baty going north with the club - the status Minter and Núñez specifically will be determined over the next couple of days
The Mets traded minor league RHP Michael Hobbs to the Mariners for cash considerations (Athletic)
Today’s Game 🗓️
Match-up: Mets (12-13) vs Marlins (8-13)
Where: Clover Park • Port St. Lucie, FL
Starters: RHP Griffin Canning (1-1, 0.90 ERA) vs. RHP Connor Gillispie (0-0, 0.75 ERA)
When: 1:10 PM ET
Where to Watch: WPIX
The Mets Opening Day roster has become clearer… ✍️
Spring Training’s long and generally monotonous road is coming to an end. The Mets have two more games before they break camp and head to Houston.
There’s still some more roster clarity to come, but Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza made it mostly clear as to who is going north with the club after tomorrow’s game with the Yankees.
He said Reed Garrett, José Buttó, and Danny Young are all going to be on the active roster and in the Mets bullpen on Opening Day. So, it’s those three, Edwin Díaz, and Ryne Stanek as shoe-ins for the bullpen out of the gate.
AJ Minter’s status might not be determined until mid-week as they wait and see how he recovers after pitching in Monday’s game. He looked really sharp on Saturday, but the Mets want to see how he does pitching two games in three days before they make a decision on his roster status. He is still recovering from August hip surgery, so he is a little bit behind the other relievers right now, which is why there’s still another test in front of him before Opening Day.
Then there’s Dedniel Núñez, who has had a long slog in a recovery from an elbow strain dating back to last summer. He has been pitching in Grapefruit League games, but he got roughed up on Friday. I’d assume he is going to appear once over the next two games, and it would be nice to see him deliver a solid performance and prove he’s strong enough to be on the roster on Opening Day. He’s a big weapon for Mendoza but obviously needs to be healthy and agile enough to pitch effectively at the big league level.
If Núñez isn’t ready, that might position Max Kranick to make the team. They might need to find a place for him anyway, although that would be hard out of the gate Minter and Núñez are ready to go. Kranick is a hard thrower and has pitched very well in camp to the tune of a 1.59 ERA in seven appearances and one start. He has had a long road back from Tommy John Surgery, and his road to the big leagues got derailed last year by a hamstring injury in camp. But now might be Kranick’s time - he has certainly made the most of his audition this spring and has unquestionably earned a job in the big leagues. He might ultimately fall victim to a roster crunch, but certainly not because of merit.
If neither Núñez nor Minter are ready to go, that might clear a path for both Kranick and Huascar Brazobán. My gut says though that if the Mets have to make one choice right now, it would be Kranick, not Brazoban.
If I were to bet some coin, I think Minter is going to be good to go. I am not quite as confident with Núñez right now, but we will see how he looks over the next couple of days, presumably.
As for the rotation, the Mets are throwing Griffin Canning today, which means he’s lining up to pitch next weekend in Houston, either in the second or third game of the season. Megill pitched yesterday, and while he was merely so-so, it sure looks like he’s making the team and in the rotation. Paul Blackburn pitched in a minor league game and threw five innings, according to Mendoza.
Mendoza has already hinted that both David Peterson and Kodai Senga are being pushed back to the series against the Marlins in Miami. The Mets aren’t keen on the right-handed heavy matchup for Peterson in Houston, and the Mets are trying to afford Senga as much time as possible to prepare for the season, which is why they’re pushing him back to Miami as well.
What order Peterson and Senga pitch in is ultimately up in the air. But, there are the Mets five starters out of the gate if I had to wager, with Blackburn positioned to go to the bullpen. Canning and Megill have earned it over Blackburn, even as Megill has been generally ordinary over the course of camp. A final decision will be made soon.
The Mets won’t need a sixth starter until April 19. So, that means the Mets can go with five starters for about three weeks before needing to add another arm to the rotation. Perhaps Sean Manaea will be ready by then. But, if not, they can slot Blackburn (or Megill, if he somehow doesn’t get the job) in for at least one turn through the rotation and stretch him out through bullpen games if necessary.
The Mets continue to express confidence in this group as-is, they continue to remain confident Manaea will return when expected towards the end of April, and they don’t seem active on the trade or free agency market at this time. They’re winging it and for now at least, rolling the dice on Manaea’s ability to be back soon.
As for the rest of the roster, I’ll start with the backup catcher situation, which is now clear.
Hayden Senger - one of the great stories in the game if you ask me - appears poised to win the backup catcher job out of camp. Mendoza said Jakson Reetz - who was the other candidate for the job - is going to the minor leagues. There’s nobody else left, so unless there’s another injury in the next couple of days, it appears Senger will get his first big league job after eight years in the minors and working at Whole Foods in the off-season.
Mendoza also said Donovan Walton - who was a candidate for the backup infielder role - will be going to Triple-A Syracuse. As such, it sure seems like the Mets will be carrying both Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña on the roster, with Baty as the primary second baseman for the time being. Jeff McNeil is apparently nowhere close to returning as he is still symptomatic of his oblique strain, so Baty is going to get a long look at a very new position for him in the field.
It’s probably make-or-break time for Baty - hopefully he’s actually figured it out at the big league level. He’s earned it with his great performance this spring, he’s been fine at second base in a small sample. Let’s see what happens when it all counts.
Each of Brandon Nimmo, Jesse Winker, and Starling Marte appears ready or healthy enough at a minimum to be in the outfield, at least in irregular bursts to start the season. Winker had some cramping midweek but appears okay now, and both Nimmo and Marte have been in the outfield in recent days, easing concerns they might not be able to go on Opening Day.
In short, the Mets have some decisions in the bullpen to make, pending whether or not Núñez and Minter can be physically capable relief arms for the club out of the gate.
Around the League 🚩
RHP Tanner Bibee and the Guardians agreed to a five-year contract extension (ESPN)
The Guardians re-acquired OF Nolan Jones from the Rockies for Tyler Freeman (MLB.com)
The D-Backs and Justin Martínez agreed to a five-year extension even as he continues to compete for their closer job (Arizona Republic)
Former Met Carlos Carrasco made the Yankees Opening Day roster and will be in their starting rotation, the club announced
Can't wait for Opening Day!
Opino que Marte hará una temporada sorprendente si le respetan las lesiones. Es un presentimiento.