1st Base
Josh Satin may get the majority of innings at this corner
if Zach Lutz makes it to The Show due to the injury to David Wright. Satin can flat-out hit, yet his defensive
prowess is Murphy-esque. Trying to
play all over the diamond can’t help.
2nd Base
Right now it would appear that Wilmer Flores should get a
chance to master yet another new position with his glove not suitable for SS
and 3rd base currently blocked for the next 7+ years by David
Wright. First base is similarly blocked
by Ike Davis who shows flashes of plus-defender capabilities. Flores was a work-in-progress during his Spring
Training innings on the right side of the infield. However, 20 HR power and a high average would
make him a very valuable commodity either in Queens or on the trading block. Remember Reese Havens? I don’t think anyone else does.
Shortstop
Right now it appears to be a toss-up between Brian Bixler
here on a minor league deal, Brandon Hicks (currently on the 40 man roster) and
(dark horse) Justin Turner (coming off an injury and not having logged a lot of
innings at this position). Turner has an
option to burn and his missed time could work against him if the Mets choose to
go north with Lutz and Quintanilla. Wilfredo
Tovar could move up but he’s Ruben Tejada Lite – no speed, no power and poorer
batting average. The better SS prospects
are buried deeper in the minors.
3rd Base
The loser of the SS sweepstakes could move over to the
hot corner, though it may once again be manned by slugger Zach Lutz once Wright
is back at 3rd when his injury heals or Lutz’ annual
season-threatening injury occurs.
Catcher
Assuming the Mets are too tight-fisted to start Travis D’Arnaud
in the big leagues, then he will be the main man behind the dish. Backing him up may be big Landon Powell who,
given his off-season tragedy, probably simply wants to work, regardless of the
role he’s asked to play. Juan Centeno
will likely begin the year in AA, but once D’Arnaud moves to New York he will
likely ascend to a starting role in Las Vegas.
With John Buck and Anthony Recker currently penciled in for the Major
League roster, one of them will be pushed out.
They could release Recker or Powell, or possibly look to move Buck in a
trade to a club that suffers a starting catcher injury.
Outfield
Matt den Dekker needs to prove he can be something other
than a windmill with the bat before he ascends from AAA to the majors. Kirk Nieuwenhuis needs to recapture whatever
mojo he once had (and to stay healthy) if he’s ever going to land a steady
Major League job. That leaves one open
position on one of the corner outfield positions. Juan Lagares had something of a down year in
2012 but given the dearth of outfielders nearly Major League ready, my guess is
that he lands in AAA. There will be
contracts offered to some of the Spring Training cast-offs to play the Fred
Lewis role such as Andrew Brown or Jamie Hoffman, but their presence is
strictly for the bench.
Overall
Ironically the two most consistent offensive producers are
both in that AAAA role – Satin and Lutz.
A lot of eyes will be on Flores as he’s one of very few young offensive players
with positive potential. The human
highlight reel in centerfield is always entertaining, but den Dekker needs to
show he can adjust to the next level. At
25 and not yet having mastered AAA time is running out on him to be anything
more than a late inning defensive replacement.
1 comment:
Sobering, yet on the money.
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