With Robert Jr. Aboard, Lineup Taking Shape
The Mets added a Gold Glove outfielder (run prevention!) and, with Luis Robert Jr. in the fold, let’s take a look at the state of the everyday lineup exactly one month before the spring training opener.
Robert will patrol center field, where he was seven outs above average (93rd percentile) in 110 games for Chicago in 2025. If the Mets go with Tyrone Taylor in left, they will cover a ton of ground. Robert and Taylor’s sprint speeds were in the 90th and 94th percentiles, respectively, last year. That duo could help make up for Juan Soto‘s defense in right (negative-12 OAA, first percentile.) Prospect Carson Benge, should he make the team, is a good defensive outfielder as well.
On the infield, Francisco Lindor is the only holdover in the starting lineup. Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette will join him. I cannot recall a Met infield that featured four players who all had this much experience at shortstop. Whether that makes for excellent defense remains to be seen, but I think it bodes well.
Francisco Alvarez will catch and the Mets hope he picks up where he left off after he came back from the minors in 2025. (MMO’s John Wilson covered that here.)
The designated hitter role could be filled by Brett Baty, Mark Vientos or whoever needs a day off from playing the field. Baty could also see time in left field. We covered that here.
More Moves?
Of course, David Stearns might not be done. Cody Bellinger, at last check, was still playing chicken with the Yankees. Free agent Austin Hays and his .949 OPS vs. lefties in 2025 might make for a nice platoon with left-handed hitting Benge in left. (Benge’s OPS vs. righties was .890 last year compared to .733 vs. lefties.)
A trade of position players (Baty and/or Vientos?) that returns pitching could open a spot for, say, free agent Eugenio Suárez, at DH. (Marcell Ozuna and Rhys Hoskins are still free agents, too.)
Luis Robert by Roberto Carlo
Batting Order
Carlos Mendoza has a lot of options. Here’s one:
- Lindor, SS
- Soto, RF
- Bichette, 3B
- Polanco, 1B
- Baty, DH
- Robert, CF
- Alvarez, C
- Semien, 2B
- Taylor/Benge, LF
For comparison’s sake, here was last year’s Opening Day lineup:
- Lindor, SS
- Soto, RF
- Pete Alonso, 1B
- Vientos, 3B
- Brandon Nimmo, LF
- Starling Marte, DH
- Taylor, CF
- Luisangel Acuña, 2B
- Luis Torrens, C
What a difference a year makes. I like the 2026 version better. What do you think?
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