After a long cold winter, baseball has finally returned and the Mets are back in action. For the past month, the Amazins have been down in Port St. Luice getting a look at their system. From the guys who are locked to make the roster, and guys who are on their last shot at cracking a big league roster. Anyway here’s how the 2024 Mets Lineup is shaping up.
Brandon Nimmo, Left Field
After signing an eight-year extension last offseason, Brandon Nimmo continues to be a fixture at the top of the Mets lineup. Nimmo’s biggest strength is his ability to get on base. In his six seasons as a mainstay, his on-base percentage has never dipped below .360. The exact production you want out of a lead-off hitter. Nimmo has also seen a recent uptick in his power numbers. We have seen his home run and slugging steadily go up over the past couple of seasons. It’s realistic to expect him to hit at least 20 over the wall at a minimum.
The only question surrounding Nimmo is whether he’ll be able to thrive in a new position. After being the starting centerfield since 2021, and has been focusing on getting better there defensively. However, due to offseason moves made by the Mets, center field is no longer Nimmo’s spot. Nimmo will be returning to where people feel he fits best, which is a corner outfield position. However is he still gonna be a natural fit there after so much time in center? Time will tell.
Baseball-Reference Projection: .274/.366/.447, .813 OPS, 18 home runs and 60 RBIs.
Francisco Lindor, Shortstop
Despite a rough start, Francisco Lindor has become the face of the New York Mets franchise. Lindor has recorded 205 RBIs over the past two seasons. Now sure his batting average normally hovers around .250 in his time with the Mets. Sure that’s not ideal when you look at his contract, but there is much more important stats to look at. When looking at stats like OPS, OPS+, and other advanced numbers, you see he might be the most important player in the Mets lineup.
One thing every Mets fan would like to see is Lindor fully embrace his leadership role. The Mets have been searching for their next captain ever since David Wright retired back in 2018. Lindor is the most logical candidate for that position. Every time something big happens the first person the camera pans to is Lindor. To add to it, Lindor is normally on the top step cheering his teammates on. The perfect attitude for a captain.
Baseball-Reference Projections: .256/.335/.452, .787 OPS, 25 home runs and 86 RBIs.
Pete Alonso, First Base
Since coming to the big leagues in 2019, Pete Alonso has been the most important hitter in this Mets lineup. The Mets have never had a power hitter like Alonso. He’s only hit under 40 home runs once in his career (Excluding the 60-game 2020 season). He also adds presents to this lineup that no other player does. Ask any Mets fan who they want at-bat with the game on the line, it would be hard press to find someone who doesn’t say, Alonso. It’s safe to say that Alonso has exceeded even the Mets’ wildest expectations.
The only issue facing Alonso is what his future holds. He’ll be a free agent at the end of this season and we don’t know how Alonso is going to perform with that pressure. He’s essentially playing for a big payday. As of right now, Alonso would probably get a contract similar to Braves first baseman Matt Olson. However will the pressure of trying to get that contract get to Alonso?
Baseball-Reference Projections: .250/,337/.509, .845 OPS, 36 home runs and 102 RBIs
J.D. Martinez, Designated Hitter
The prize acquisition of the offseason slides into the cleanup spot for the Mets. J.D. Martinez signed a one-year 12 million dollar deal with the Mets just last week. This is also the perfect addition to this Mets lineup. Outside of Alonso, the Mets were lacking in power hitters. They didn’t really have anyone that was a true home run threat. Martines changes that, with him coming off a 33 home runs season. Martinez gives Alonso much-needed protection in this lineup, something he’s never truly had in his career.
Now Martinez won’t be on the opening day roster, due to him signing so late into the offseason. However, once he’s ready, he’ll be a fixture in this Mets lineup. The only true concern with Martinez is his age. Martinez enters the season at 36 years old, and will be 37 by the time the season ends. This is normally the time we start seeing players regress. Is this something that’s going to happen to Martinez?
Baseball-Reference Projections: .268/.329/.494, .823 OPS, 22 home runs, and 76 RBIs
Francisco Alverez, Catcher
Francisco Alverez showed everyone why he deserved to be the number-one prospect in the Mets system. Alverez put on a power display in his first full season hitting 25 home runs and had a .437 slugging percentage. Those would be good numbers for any rookies. However, those numbers become better when you consider Alverez was the everyday catcher and was trying to learn how to catch and build chemistry with the pitching staff. This is no easy task but Alverez seemed to handle the transition pretty well.
However, if Alverez wants to truly cement himself as the catcher of the future for the Mets, he has to get his contact numbers up. Last season he only batted .209 and had an on-base percentage of .284. The batting average you can live with if his power numbers improve, but the on-base percentage is too low for an MLB starter. That’s the one area he should be focused on this season
Baseball-Reference Projections: .232/.308/.456, .764 OPS, 22 home runs, and 60 RBIs
Jeff McNeil, Second Base
Many fans were disappointed by the season Jeff McNeil had last season. Expectations were big considering he was coming off an NL batting title and looked like one of the best contact hitters in all of baseball. However, almost every single offensive category decreased last season for McNeil. Now the hope is that with a new coaching staff and Eric Chavez back at hitting coach, maybe McNeil can refind the 2022 magic.
This is a big prove-it year for McNeil. Not if he’s a good player or not, more of if he has a future in New York. The Mets have several prospects who play middle infield, that are showing lots of promise. We know Lindor is a lock at short for the next decade, which leaves second place as the only open position. If McNeil struggles again we could be seeing one of these prospects sooner rather than later.
Baseball-Reference Projection: .282/.345/.406, .751 OPS, 11 home runs, and 56 RBIs.
Starling Marte, Right Field
Another player who had a disappointing season last year for the Mets was Starling Marte. Marte was arguably one of the most important in the lineup in 2022. Whatever it was the lineup was completely different when he was in the lineup. Last season saw Marte battle injuries all season, and it was a lost season for Marte. Similar to McNeil the hope is he can recapture the magic he had in 2022.
The more you think about it, the more similarities you see between Marte and McNeil. The Mets have a big-time outfield prospect in Drew Gilbert. Gilbert has been described as a young Lenny Dykstra where he just plays the game balls to the walls. He’s going to be an exciting player and if Marte struggles, the calls for Gilbert are gonna be loud.
Baseball-Reference Projection: .275/.337/.416, .753 OPS, 11 home runs, and 45 RBIs.
Brett Baty, Third Base
Brett Baty was once the second-best prospect in the Mets system. He was seen as a can’t-miss prospect and the first true third baseman the Mets had since Wright. His big league career started off with a splash in 2022 when in his first at-bat he hit a two-run homer against Atlanta. That’s been the only career highlight so far as Baty has struggled to find his footing in the bigs.
In fact, the only reason why Baty is the starting third baseman is because Ronny Mauricio tore his ACL in winter ball and will miss the entire season. Without that injury Mauricio is at third and Baty is either riding the pine or down in Triple-A. Baty has been given an opportunity here to prove why he was a top prospect.
Baseball-Reference Projection: .231/.298/.376, .674 OPS, 12 home runs, and 42 RBIs
Harrison Bader, Center Field
Harrison Bader was seen as an odd signing at first. At that point, the Mets had a relatively quiet offseason and had bigger holes on the roster than center field. However, Bader wasn’t brought in here to bring something into the lineup. He’s brought in here for his defensive abilities. He’s in the top percentile for every defensive metric on Baseball Savant. So even if his production is down, his defensive will keep the critics off his back.
Bader also adds speed to this lineup. Which is why he’s batting 9th in the order. He’s essentially a second leadoff hitter. With the new rules and with stolen bases becoming a big part of baseball again, having a speedster like Bader will only make the roster better.
Baseball-Reference Projection: .249/.301/.392, .693 OPS, 11 home runs and 47 RBIs.
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