Reese Kaplan -- A Premature Opening Day Mets Roster Prediction

With the first round of demotions the Mets are starting to draw the line in the sand between who might actually travel north to New York and who most definitely needs more seasoning before they are deemed major league ready.  None of the names on the list of demotions was a surprise at all.  What it does do is put additional pressure on the remaining major league camp contenders to prove to the club that they belong at Citifield.

Now one of the more interesting developments was the release of Sean Reid-Foley.  It was a little surprising given his 1.66 ERA last year and his overall positive contributions to the Mets over the years when he’s been healthy enough to play.  What it does mean is that the Mets needed that 40-man roster spot for someone to be added who is not currently on that list of easily movable players who can go back and forth between the minors and the majors.

While it’s over three weeks early, let’s take an early crack at who is in camp that might actually get to freeze his but for early season games in Queens.  Let’s get the easy ones out of the way first.

Starting Lineup

• Pete Alonso
• Jeff McNeil
• Francisco Lindor
• Mark Vientos
• Francisco Alvarez
• Brandon Nimmo (injured but expected to be ready)
• Jose Siri
• Juan Soto
• Jesse Winker

Backup Players on the Bench

• Luis Torrens
• Tyrone Taylor

Hitting Contenders

• Luisangel Acuna
• Jose Azocar
• Brett Baty
• Alexander Canario
• Jared Young

Hitter Injury List

• Nick Madrigal
• Starling Marte
• Ronny Mauricio

Starting Pitchers

• Kodai Senga
• Clay Holmes
• David Peterson
• Tylor Megill 

Relief Pitchers

• Edwin Diaz
• Jose Butto
• Ryne Stanek
• Reed Garrett

Pitching Contenders

• Paul Blackburn
• Huascar Brazoban
• Griffin Canning
• Justin Hagenman
• Kevin Herget
• Max Kranick
• Austin Warren
• Danny Young
• Tyler Zuber

Pitching Injury List

• Adbert Alzolay
• Sean Manaea
• A.J. Minter
• Frankie Montas
• Dedniel Nunez
• Christian Scott
• Drew Smith

OK, so now we see who are on the making-the-team list for certain.  By my count it’s eleven offensive players, four starting pitchers and four relievers.  That’s only nineteen ballplayers on the northbound airplane.  So what we have to figure out is who will comprise the additional seven needed to complete a full 26-man roster.

For the infield it would seem that the Mets are likely going to give one of the slots to Brett Baty who is hitting well and for the first time playing positions other than third base.  Rumor has it that the younger Luisangel Acuna is being judged as someone in greater need of refinement in his batting eye and may be better off playing every single day in Syracuse rather than once or twice a week in Queens.

For the outfield, the natural and easy addition to replace Starling Marte while his knee heals is young slugger Alexander Canario.  He’s just 24 years old and has already had a 37 HR season in the minors which suggests some serious power.  He’s at an age where playing as a DH platoon or substitute outfielder may be more suitable than someone just 21 or 22.  These two additions would give the Mets 13 offensive players.

Now for the starting rotation the obvious choices are Paul Blackburn and Griffin Canning.  Neither has posted much in terms of major league solid work but considering the fill-in need could be as little as 2-3 weeks before Sean Manaea returns, it’s possible to live with one or the other.

The other starting pitcher contender is Max Kranick who has had a very strong start to his 2025 spring training.  Given the stronger numbers he posted in the minors in 2024, his health and his young veteran status you would think he would be under serious consideration as well, yet it seems they’re envisioning him as a perhaps long relief pitcher if he comes north at all. 

For the bullpen there are a great many contenders here.  A few who look promising include Huascar Brazoban who didn’t pitch like he had in Florida when he was obtained and Danny Young whose left handedness helps temporarily fill the potential temporary IL stint for A.J. Minter. 

The other bullpen arm not listed here is the minor league contracted veteran with major league experience, Jose Urena.  While his numbers don’t stun you with put away potential, he has a long resume of major league experience and they didn’t create the 40-man roster spot for no reason. 

So if you pick one of Blackburn and Canning, add in Kranick, Brazoban, Young and Urena, that would give you five additional pitchers.  Added to the eight existing pitchers on the roster that is a total of 13. 

Now it’s entirely possible some of the currently disabled or at least nursing their way back pitchers do reestablish themselves.  It’s also theoretically viable for trades to be made or DFA acquisitions done.  For now, however, these 26 players would be my best guess at the opening day roster for the New York Mets.