Mets Roster Decisions: Will Benge Make Opening Day, Senga Start?

As Spring Training winds down, the Mets are juggling a handful of roster decisions with Opening Day right around the corner. The right field battle is shaping up between Carson Benge and veteran Mike Tauchman.

The bullpen? Still not set beyond five near-locks. On the mound, Kodai Senga looks like he’s locked in for the rotation, and Francisco Lindor’s return from wrist surgery is in sight.

But honestly, there’s still some doubt about how quickly Lindor can get back to full power. Let’s break down what all this means for New York’s outlook.

Right field battle shaping Mets’ Opening Day plan

The Mets have to decide: Is the Opening Day right fielder going to be Carson Benge, their No. 2 prospect, or Mike Tauchman, who’s had a strong spring? Benge’s hitting .367 this spring and looks like the future in right, but New York might stick with Tauchman a bit longer while they sort things out.

Key factors in the decision include Benge’s development curve, Tauchman’s experience, and those ever-present service-time considerations. There’s also Tauchman’s opt-out looming if he doesn’t make the roster, which puts a little extra pressure on the front office to make a call soon.

Right-field decision drivers

• Benge: .367 spring, tons of upside, long-term fit in right field
• Tauchman: veteran, solid spring, opt-out risk if left off the roster

The Mets could wait until the very end of camp to decide. If Benge keeps raking, maybe they just let the kid play. If Tauchman keeps delivering, he might hold a spot as a bridge while the team figures out its next move.

Bullpen puzzle remains unsettled beyond five near-locks

New York’s bullpen is still a bit of a question mark after the five near-locks: Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Luis García, and Tobias Myers. Two spots are still open, and the race for those is heating up as camp wraps.

The main contenders for those relief roles are Craig Kimbrel, Huascar Brazobán, Bryan Hudson, Adbert Alzolay, and Joey Gerber. Brazobán’s option status could muddy things, while Kimbrel’s performance has been shaky and comes with a $2.5 million price tag if he makes the roster.

Relief candidates to watch

• Craig Kimbrel: inconsistent, $2.5 million if he makes it
• Huascar Brazobán: option status could matter
• Bryan Hudson: veteran depth
• Adbert Alzolay: could eat some innings
• Joey Gerber: another name in the mix

The next few days will probably decide who gets those final bullpen spots. The Mets are also thinking about how a six-man rotation might affect the bullpen early on.

Kodai Senga’s emergence anchors Mets’ six-man rotation

Kodai Senga looks like he’s back in the rotation after a dominant Grapefruit League run. He’s been touching 99 mph and showing some nasty movement.

Manager Carlos Mendoza has noticed, and it sounds like the Mets will open the season with a six-man rotation that includes Senga.

Senga’s performance and what it means

• Velocity up to 99 mph; sharper stuff
• Six-man rotation seems likely; Senga’s in from Opening Day

Adding a sixth starter gives the Mets a little more flexibility early on and helps manage Senga’s workload. If he keeps this up, New York gets a real boost to start the year and can keep the rest of the rotation fresher for the grind ahead.

Lindor’s rehab update: Opening Day near, but questions linger about power

Francisco Lindor, who had surgery for a stress reaction in his left hamate back in February, has made steady progress and even got into a Grapefruit League game. He’s just about a lock for Opening Day, but nobody really knows if his power and bat speed will come back right away.

The Mets are going to keep a close eye on Lindor’s swing and see if he’s hesitating or losing any bat speed. His energy and leadership in the infield are huge, and if he can get back to form, that would give the lineup and clubhouse a real lift as the season gets rolling.

What to watch in Lindor’s return

• Recovery timeline: Lindor’s made strong progress, even showing up in a Grapefruit League game.
• Power and wrist strength: How much pop will he have early on? That’s the real question for his first few games.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Benge on roster? Senga in rotation? And more key questions for Mets