Reese Kaplan -- The Outfield Reserves Are Not Starter-Worthy

While most people feel that the starting 9 for the New York Mets is pretty much already decided, there are some questions regarding the bench and who will back up the regulars.  While Zack Short had a highlight reel defensive play a few days ago, it would take a miracle of sorts for him to dislodge Joey Wendle or supplement him as an extra infielder on the roster.  The same applies for Tomas Nido's quest to become a Mets backup player with Omar Narvaez (and his salary) shoving him far ahead on the depth chart.  

Where it gets a bit more flexible and interesting is in the area of reserve outfielders.  Given the roster projected right now you have Brandon Nimmo slated to play left field, Harrison Bader set for center field and Starling Marte in right.  Yes, you can question the wisdom of the expensive Bader acquisition but what he contributes defensively may make up for his offensive limitations.  No one is expecting major changes to take place with this trio.

However, as the Mets continue their preparatory work in Florida, outfielders D.J. Stewart, Trayce Thompson and Tyrone Taylor need to make their cases to the powers that be to ensure they come north with the team.  Of this trio, Tyrone Taylor is likely the strongest contender as he is a plus defensive player and has demonstrated during his major league career the ability to produce at a 20 HR rate with a modest .239 batting average.  While that doesn't sound like much, it's the combination of power and defense combined with a modest salary that make him pretty much a shoo-in to come north with his current and former boss from Milwaukee, David Stearns, having traded for him.

Everyone here is familiar with D.J. Stewart and for a hot month plus saw he could be a weapon in the middle of the batting order.  Unlike Taylor, D.J. is not known for what he can do with his glove and his running ability is offset by his substantial but not quite Vogelbach level of girth.  He's had part time player written for several seasons in Baltimore and now New York.  Despite the period in which he appeared to have become something of an offensive cog in the machine, he finished the year with a similar .244 batting average to what you would expect from Taylor and clubbed 11 HRs in just 160 ABs which is a pace for over 30 if he played a full season.  That .244 2023 season upped his career average to an unimpressive .220.  The power is for real but you have to wonder if he's essentially  at best Daniel Vogelbach lite (if not light).  We saw how poorly that worked out.  As a lefty swinger he could provide some pretty solid numbers against righty pitching but provides little else to make the case for him playing more regularly.

Non roster invitee Trayce Thompson has flashed power during his big league career but struggled even more than the others to get his batting average up to an acceptable number.  Now 32 years old, Thompson owns a career AVG of just .212.  Think of him as a right handed version of D.J. Stewart.  He also can produce 20 HR power over the course of a full season, but without any stolen base ability having swiped just 17 over 7 years of play, he's not really providing a lot if injury or slumps from the starters forced him to play for an extended period of time.  Coming off a sub-Mendoza season he has a long climb to force his way onto the roster despite his grand slam and 5 RBIs earlier this week.  

It would seem that the youngsters in camp wouldn't be a part of this equation as they need to spend more time playing regularly in AA and AAA.  However, there might be reserve outfielders available from other clubs via trade or roster squeezes that could make Stewart's or Thompson's desires to play in Queens go unfulfilled.  Then again, there are so many holes in the roster as it is right now in terms of starting and relief pitching as well as leaning heavily on a trio of offensive Baby Mets that they may just roll with the punches of who they already have in-house.