Reese Kaplan -- It's About Time To See Players Take the Field

Happy Valentine's Day for those folks with significant others and family members who they cherish!

With the beginning of Spring Training everyone grows accustomed to the words of the manager, the GM/POBO and the others associated with the ballclub.  Right now pretty much all participants in this coffee klatch of gossip are full of wide-eyed optimism as the preparations for the 2025 season have officially begun on the playing field. 

Some of the discussions are to be expected.  What about the recovery for Kodai Senga?  According to most reports he feels healthy and expects a full season’s workload but then that was true as the last preseason began, so you take that hyperbole with a grain or silo of salt.

What about Brandon Nimmo?  Some media pundits were declaring him 100% healthy, ready to do anything baseball related other than sprinting as he works through the plantar fasciitis that curtailed his batting average and comfort levels last season.  Others are treating the oft-injured outfielder as facing yet another malady that’s going to have him missing a lot of innings in favor of Jose Siri as a 7th inning defensive replacement and perhaps whole games depending on the effectiveness of the injection he received for the condition.

The one somewhat surprising health story concerns 2024’s missing man-in-dormancy, Ronny Mauricio.  Thus far he’s not exercising at full capacity and it would seem that given the baby steps he’s making towards a return he’d better plan on dressing warmly as his early 2025 at-bats are most likely going to be in Syracuse. 

Other pitchers recovering from injuries are a bit longer term with respect to recovery and return to action.  Christian Scott, newly signed Drew Smith, Paul Blackburn and others would fit into this bucket. 

Then there are the position battles that play out among the palm trees in Florida.  Everyone had assumed all along that second base was a given for Jeff McNeil or that hot rookie Luisangel Acuna might get enough traction not only to make the club but also to make a serious run at being the starter.  After all, his defensive ability and baserunning speed would be great additions to the offense.

Carlos Mendoza, however, threw a bit of a curveball to anyone listening when he suggested that heretofore slump-dwelling Brett Baty might make a run at the second base position as well.  Now part of that conjecture could be the need to build up the man’s defensive resume to create a supersub utility role for him when it would appear that Jose Iglesias has become yesterday’s OMG news.  Another part of it could be to boost his trade value.  Then there is the desire to reduce payroll if possible which could mean Jeff McNeil being on the trading block.  For now, however, there’s probably little to be gained by returning Baty to Syracuse, especially if he was going to play third base where Mark Vientos has returned once again after the signing of Pete Alonso.

An interesting tidbit floating around the baseball media is that the platoon pair of Jesse Winker and Starling Marte as the aggregate DH is actually somewhat better than many people fear.  Winker in platoon situations is a capable hitter and Marte though aging is still good at making contact and at swiping bases.  Still, given the high number of Marte’s 4th year as a Met suggests that he too could be showcased for a buydown role on another club in trade. 

If the season started today, chances are that the lineup would closely resemble the 2024 squad with the substitution of Juan Soto for Starling Marte in right field and the as yet undetermined center fielder.

There will be battles for the starting rotation and the bullpen as well.  If healthy, Senga, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, David Peterson and converted reliever Clay Holmes should be the top five starters.  If they indeed move to a six-man rotation then it’s anyone’s guess who would be rewarded with that assignment.  It could be Tylor Megill, Griffin Canning or other folks on the periphery other than Jose Butto who it was announced was most definitely staying in the bullpen. 

For the bench other than backup catcher Luis Torrens and a spare center fielder, no one knows who will serve as backups to the infield or the outfield.  If Baty or Acuna emerge as starters then McNeil becomes an outfielder.  If Nick Madrigal is valued more for his experience than the unproven long term skills of Baty or Acuna, then perhaps he is the new Iglesias.  Both Starling Marte and Jesse Winker can play the outfield, so what you see now may be what you’re getting. 

Of course, between injuries, slumps and players engaging in unprofessional behavior it’s a guessing game as to who comes north and who goes further north to Syracuse.  Right now, however, it’s good to hear the sounds of balls hitting gloves, bats hitting balls and reading recaps of what it’s like actually to be out on the diamond preparing for the season.