Reese Kaplan -- Let's Take a Look at the 2026 Offensive Roster

To continue the same line of thinking from the Pete Alonso contract option article on Wednesday, let’s take a look at some other internal roster offensive decisions that need to be made before the 2026 season begins. 

Infield

Obviously Francisco Lindor will be back as he’s the unofficial captain of the team while providing his leadership on the field and at the plate.  He’s got a combination of outstanding defense, strong baserunning skills, a good batting average and incredible power for someone who plays shortstop. 

After that it’s pretty muddy.  We already went over the Alonso option that will likely be exercised.  After that comes the bevy of Baby Mets who have not established a firm grip on a position.  

Brett Baty started off well but then fell off an offensive cliff with the possibility of his batting average dipping below .220.  Mark Vientos has come to life a bit later in the year but his power has not returned.  

Luisangel Acuna has already been sent back to Syracuse to make roster space for someone else as he was only getting pinch running and late inning defensive opportunities.  The odd one of the group is newly recovered Ronny Mauricio who took more than half a year to get revved up, but apparently the Mets were adamant about him not being included in any of the July trades.

While some folks keep waiting for one of the other trio of infielders to take hold of a position and run with it, others are ready to wipe the slate clean and find new personnel for the future.  If we assume Mauricio is going to be on one side of Lindor or the other, it would suggest that there may be some restructuring needed.  

The easiest thing would be to return Jeff McNeil to second base and place Mauricio at third base.  This approach takes the immediate trading and free agent needs for the infield to be put on hold for another year while AA ballplayers get the time to work their way towards AAA and eventually the majors.

Outfield

Here the Mets have some work to do.  Assuming both corner men will return and hopefully thrive, they still have a huge hole in centerfield.  A lot of folks have been hoping that Carson Benge or Jett Williams would jump up to the big club now that Drew Gilbert is gone, but David Stearns seems to be a patient and traditional POBO who wants to see players get the appropriate amount of time in the minor league chain before becoming big league rookies.  

Benge in particular has had less than a full season’s worth of ABs after his transition from pitcher to hitter.  Williams is closing in on three full years worth of minor league development and despite being just 21 years old is actually more developmentally ready for a midyear or 2027 jump to the majors.  

A short term CF option may be needed in trade or free agency assuming the club isn’t ready to extend the rental solution, Cedric Mullins.

Catcher

Signs of revitalization of his offense has been evident upon Francisco Alvarez’s return to the big club.  It would seem that there is not much needing to be done behind the dish.

Saturday we’ll do the third and final piece examining the Mets pitching for the foreseeable future.