Mike Freire - Status Check (Roster)

Good Morning, Mets' fans!

I am likely taking a bit of a risk by putting this article together a few days before it is scheduled to "go to press". Especially since the bulk of the article is based on the 2019 Mets' roster projection and the players on the Mets' roster have changed a bit over the past few weeks.

OK, that was a significant understatement, right?

Heck, our new leader is about as aggressive as they come. He could almost be compared to an eager 16 year old in the back seat of his father's car with his prom date, but this a family friendly blog so I will put the brakes on that analogy. However, doing so does not take away from insane amount of turnover that the roster has been through of late.

As a reminder, I am NOT an expert and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Instead, what I am about to share with all of you is my OPINION on where the current roster is and what still needs to be done, no more and no less. I also encourage each of you to share your views in the "comments section" below.

Here is how I would set up the basic roster and the player or players that I think will fill the positions once the season is actually underway;

*C1 - Ramos
 C2 -   ???  (TdA, Nido, other?)
*1B - Frazier (until Alonso is ready)
*2B - Cano
*SS - Rosario
*3B - McNeil (Frazier, Davis or Lowrie?)
 MI -  Lowrie
 CI -   Davis (or Frazier if Davis starts)
*LF - Nimmo
*CF -   ??? (Lagares, Broxton, other?)
*RF - Conforto
OF4 - Broxton
OF5 -  ??? (McNeil once Alonso is ready?)

*Starters, so to speak
Bold are locked in, IMO.

As you can see, there is a bit of uncertainty in several locations (first base, third base and center field), primarily due to the status of Peter Alonso and his delayed entry onto the roster. In the long run, unless there is a trade, perhaps Frazier ends up at third base and McNeil becomes one of several "utility types" on the roster, along with Lowrie and Davis. If that is the case, it is one heck of a versatile bench, right?

SP1 - deGrom
SP2 - Syndergaard
SP3 - Wheeler
SP4 - Matz
SP5 -  ???  (Vargas or other?)

LRR - Lugo
LRL -  ???
MRR - Gsellman
MRL - Zamora
SUR - Familia
SUL - ???
CLO  - Diaz

The pitching staff is a bit more settled, but I think there is the potential to upgrade the back end of the rotation, either from within (Dowdy?) or one of the remaining free agents. If that occurs, then Vargas likely slides into the left handed, long reliever (LRL) role or he is dealt away.

Despite recent additions, I still see a shortage of left handed relievers on the roster (especially someone who can fill the left handed set up role). It is possible that the team does not carry three lefties in the bull pen, so the remaining slot could go to someone like Drew Smith who is intriguing based on his minor league track record.

In closing, the roster still seems a bit "out of balance" with the recent moves made in free agency and/or the trade market. I wonder if another trade or two is still in the works with an expensive veteran (Frazier, Lagares or Vargas) heading out of town in exchange for another team's pricey player?

How do you see things?