Reese Kaplan -- How Does the Lineup Look Right Now?

One of the thumb twiddling exercises people have been doing since the Kyle Tucker rumors hit the surface is how and where it will shape the New York Mets team and lineup should he, unlike the myriad of other quality ballplayers David Stearns failed to land actually chooses to begin the next phase of his professional career at Citifield. On Thursday, of course, all that speculation went out the window as Tucker chose to sing his own version of "I Love L.A."

I had originally written a long piece about the way Tucker would fit into the Mets offense but those paragraphs are now gone with the wind, much like Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz who chose to go elsewhere.  

Against left handed pitching the current club may have a few issues.  Newcomer Marcus. Semien indeed bats right handed but his offensive metrics have been trending downward for the past two years with the home run totals and RBI totals a shell of his former self.  Last season he was working through some injuries and it’s possible he can revitalize a little bit but at age 35 this upcoming season he’s not exactly cleanup hitting material.

Then you have another great unknown in the other direction in Francisco Alvarez.  Last late season he was hitting with authority after again fighting through hand issues but his power dropped precipitously from a total of 25 HRs and 63 RBIs in his 2023 season to a combined 22 HRs and 67 RBIs during the aggregate of 2024 and 2025 for a full season’s worth of ABs.  The positive sign is the batting average going from a .208 number three seasons ago to .256 this past year.  If he can continue his solid hitting progress and provide 20 HR power playing as a regular then he would be a supportive member of the team against southpaws akin to what Brett Baty might down from the left side against righties. 

Don’t forget the switch hitters here, either.  Francisco Lindor and Jorge Polanco are going to help against both left handed and right handed pitchers as well.  Currently the only location for a right handed offensive weapon to be added to this lineup is a center fielder with a much stronger bat than Tyrone Taylor.  There are spare parts that could be traded such as Mark Vientos, one of the current starting pitchers and some of the higher level pitching and offensive prospects who have not yet made regular performance metrics for the the big club. 

Offense aside, the other issue is defense.  Right now everyone knows Juan Soto may be a HOF type of hitter and runner but he was at the bottom of defensive scores for right fielders.  

The other side of the outfield dilemma is who plays where.  Given the magnitude of Soto’s contract and his cleanup level hitting do you risk asking him to take his less than stellar defense to left field and allow an unknown newcomer to assume where he had been playing in right? 

As far as center field goes no one knows what to expect.  Earlier in the off season the rumors included oft injured but highly talented Byron Buxton but the current belief is that he’s off the market.  There’s always Luis Robert, Jr. from the White Sox, but he’s not exactly a guaranteed offensive improvement though he would address defense quite well.  Tyrone Taylor is a very good fourth outfielder but he has demonstrated during his Mets tenure he is not a starting capable hitter.  Until center field is addressed no one is sure how the lineup will be constructed.