Reese Kaplan -- So Who Is Going to Play Center Field?

While everyone seems to focus mostly on the departing free agents exercising their opt-out clauses, the non-existent pitching and the hypothetical trades for superstar players whose current employers would be foolish to peddle to another team, there are still other issues that need resolution.  One of them is the black hole in center field where defense apparently mattered a whole lot more than offense when you consider the names penciled into the lineup out there since David Stearns took his position with the Mets.  Going into 2026 the club once again doesn’t have a solution for this critical role.

Many people feel that somehow prospect Carson Benge will somehow between winter efforts and spring training propel himself from a mere 99 AAA at-bats where he hit a less than robust .178 into the starting role on Opening Day.  This is not to belittle his baseball pedigree as he has in limited minor league action shown himself capable of hitting for average, power and capable of stealing bases while playing a very respectable center field.  At age 22 he has not yet established his credibility in AAA, so it would seem premature to expect him to jump into the majors when the team comes north from Port St. Lucie.

Stellar defender Tyrone Taylor is still on the roster but as a career .238 hitter over parts of seven years in the majors he’s never played himself into a regular starting role.  His high water mark in at-bats was back in 2022 when he had 373 while playing for the Brewers.  He’s a useful piece but not the pedigree to be a starter on a team with postseason aspirations. 

Others who have been trotted out there have their own defensive shortcomings including Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and free agent to be Starling Marte.  If Stearns is to be believed about wanting to prevent runs from crossing the plate then none of these options address this desire.

Some folks are advocating that the club go all-in to acquire someone who will be a regular but with offensive abilities far better than Jose Siri or Cedric Mullins.  Whomever that fantasy baseball player might be, the fact remains that a long term contract to man center field would present a road block to the future arrival of Carson Benge. 

It is possible to find a short term deal with someone who is a credible fielder with some hitting ability that is on the end reign of his career and would command more than a 1-2 year deal, but we saw how things worked when the team tried that with a long-in-the-tooth J.D. Martinez who demonstrated his best days were clearly behind him. 

The other option to consider is finding a player with multi positional capability who could take over center field in 2026 then move to another place on the field when Benge proves himself worthy of a major league promotion.  The problem here is not just finding this player, but also paying his requested salary.  A good example would be now former Yankee Cody Bellinger who won both a Gold Glove and an MVP while playing for the Dodgers.  He is currently earning $27.5 million and would likely be seeking a longer term deal in the $30 million or more range which would likely only be possible if Pete Alonso leaves the Mets.  Bellinger could indeed play 2026 in center field than move either to a corner outfield position or first base after Benge arrives.

At this point center field is another great unknown for the Mets as is first base, closer, setup relievers and starting pitchers.  It’s very early in the process and more clarity will emerge after the World Series ends and players can officially file for free agency.