With less than two weeks to go until Opening Day, the New York Mets trimmed down their spring training roster. The club on Sunday made a slew of roster cuts that totaled 11 players. The Mets announced that they have reassigned pitchers Carl Edwards Jr., Joe Jacques, and Ryan Lambert, who threw three scoreless innings in Grapefruit League action, to minor league camp.
Catcher and former first -round pick Kevin Parada, infielders Ryan Clifford, Jackson Cluff, Grae Kessinger, and Jacob Reimer, along with outfielders Ji Hwan Bae, A.J. Ewing, and Jose Ramos have also been reassigned to minor league camp.
53 players remain in Mets camp.
Who is in The Mets Opening Day Mix?
The Mets have a healthy right field competition and bullpen competition as spring training dwindles down. Carson Benge, who is the team’s top position prospect, has understandably been the talk of the town for the entirety of spring training. Since November, it was made public that Benge would have the chance to come into MLB camp and fight for the starting right field job. Of course, however, that comes with competition.
MJ Melendez, veteran Mike Tachman, Tyrone Taylor, and Brett Baty are the other candidates for the job. While all five players have performed exceptionally well — which is quite rare — Benge and Tauchman are likely the favorites for the opening.
Benge’s ability to limit strikeouts while getting hits has opened eyes. The 23-year-old is currently tied for first on the team in hits (11) and has slashed .367/.406/.433 with five RBI’s and an .840 OPS in 30 at-bats.
The 35-year-old Tauchman, however, has been impressive in his own right. Tachman has successfully reached base safely in 13 of his 26 plate appearances this spring, with four walks and four extra base hits, including a home run.
It’s worth mentioning that Tauchman was signed to a minor league deal. Though in his contract, it states that the veteran can opt-out at the end of spring training if he does not make the Opening Day Roster. If that is how it plays out at the end of the spring, Tauchman can rightfully opt-out and elect free agency, instead of being sent down to the minors.
The Bullpen
The Mets have five locks in the bullpen for Opening Day out of a possible eight. Those locks include closer Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Luis García and Tobias Myers. Veteran lefty A.J. Minter, who will be a key piece in the bullpen, will return in May.
Huascar Brazobán, who is participating in the World Baseball Classic for Team Dominican Republic, is highly likely to make the Opening Day Roster. That would leave the Mets with two more spots to fill in the bullpen.
Candidates include lefty Bryan Hudson and veteran Craig Kimbrel, who at age 37 is not considering retirement yet.
Kimbrel, who is the active leader in saves (440), has seen his velocity take a dip the past couple of years, though has incorporated a cutter and changeup into his arsenal as he hopes it will lead him back to success. In four innings pitched this spring, Kimbrel has limited damage but has been erratic, walking four batters while hitting two batsmen.
If those arms don’t crack the roster on March 26, other options include Joey Gerber, Richard Lovelady, and Austin Warren.
Main Photo Credits: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
