National League teams didn’t build their rosters with the expectation of a universal designated hitter slot for 2020, but most are capable of filling the job from within. Some teams could really benefit from the anticipated temporoary rule change … among them, the Mets.
The advantage for the New York organization is multi-faceted. It’s not just about stuffing more hitting ability into the daily lineup in the upcoming truncated season, though that’s a factor as well. The DH would also create some important near-term roster flexibility and possibly open additional long-term strategic options.
It really all comes down to two guys: hobbled former superstar Yoenis Cespedes and one-time top prospect Dominic Smith. Without a DH slot, both face questionable roster prospects. Cespedes is working to return from major leg injuries. Nobody really knows how he’ll look at full speed in the outfield grass. Smith is all but fully blocked at first base by emergent star Pete Alonso. The Mets already know how Smith looks in the outfield and would rather not see much more of it.
The Mets are already crossing their fingers with outfield defense. J.D. Davis isn’t exactly a glove-first roster piece. The club will rely upon Brandon Nimmo for most of the action in center field; he’s a palatable but hardly exceptional performer there. Jake Marisnick can cover a lot of ground, but he’ll be a reserve. And Michael Conforto will be an everyday presence in the lineup, so there’s not much space anyway.
Under the circumstances, it’s a bit of a luxury to carry a guy like Smith. But what other choice do the Mets have? He can still be optioned, true, but that’s a heck of a way to treat a guy that turned in an eyebrow-raising .282/.355/.525 batting line in 197 plate appearances over an injury-limited 2019 season. And Cespedes? We don’t know when he’ll be ready, but he has now had ample additional time to work back to full health while the game has been paused. You can safely assume he’ll be clamoring for a return to the MLB roster as soon as possible, particularly with a newly incentive-laden contract and free agency beckoning after 2020.
Somehow fitting both of these guys on the same roster? It’s a bit tough to imagine, but the Mets could possibly make it work since Davis can play in the infield. With a DH slot, it’d at at least be plausible. And that would open the door to a potentially explosive offense, with depth to spare as injuries or performance issues arise. It’s sort of silly to consider these two talented players in a DH platoon, but if it comes to that … well, it’s a first-world problem.
The broader roster management benefits are perhaps even more significant here. Smith needs a full shot at the majors; perhaps the DH will clear a sustainable path for him in the organization or pave the way to an eventual trade. And having that bat-only position to utilize makes it much easier for the Mets to deal with, and even benefit from, the final season of the Cespedes contract.
Imagine Davis and Ces in the same lineup? Oh have mercy!
I hope cano will have a bounce back year, same with conforto but I might be asking for too much.
Conforto has a very good 2019
not as impressive in the context of the ball being juiced last year.
Don’t disagree, but it was far from a season he’d need to “bounce back” from. It was pretty much an average season for him.
Conforto drove in 95 I think. So I can live with that. I love Can & I hate to say it but if he does a Dave Wright- that would be OK with me
I have much less confidence that a thirty-something, coming off major surgery Cespedes will look like his old self than other Met fans, it seems. Love Cespedes, but I’ll be happy with anything we get out of him and don’t expect much.
i imagine its going to be mostly Smith, though Cespedes and Lowrie may see time as they return to health.
I think Lowrie is done.
Smith and Ces = DH platoon.
Good to know the DH will only be around in 2020, and most likely, nobody will ever get to DH.
The universal DH really works for the Mets. If (always an if) Cespedes is healthy I think he can still hit. Also if you go defense in the OF say Nimmo, Marisnick, Conforto using JD Davis in the DH role. Of course it also gives Smith the potential for some at bats. Hate the DH but the Mets have a very good offensive team.
Matt Adams?
Don’t need Adams. We got Smith, Davis, Cespedes before we even need to consider a guy like Adams. He was signed to keep first base warm at triple A.
Don’t think there is room unless someone gets injured.
Unless or until?
Alonso and Smith would have to be out at the same tine for Adams to be at all relevant… and even then the best lineup probably has Davis at first and Adams on the bench.
If, and a big if, Cespedes is healthy and able to play the OF, my goodness is the lineup scary. They can go heavy offense with Cespedes in LF, Conforto in CF, and Davis/Smith in RF. Nimmo and Marisnik are available off the bench. Davis can even play some 3B and McNeil in the OF in that scenario.
Rosario SS
McNeil RF
Alonso DH
Cespedes LF
Conforto CF
Davis 3B
Cano 2B
Ramos C
Smith 1B
That’s one of the best lineups in baseball right there.
I wouldn’t bat Rosario and his meh OBP leadoff, but yea that’s a good lineup
That lineup might be a power house in terms of offence but good god anything hit into the outfield is going to drop. Worst defensive outfield in the league right there
Yea that’s true, plus with Davis at third that’s brutal
Cano and Ramos aren’t exactly plus defenders either and hopefully Rosario doesn’t regress.
If Nimmo is healthy, he starts in center and bats 2nd or leadoff.
I think it has to be Dom Smith vs RHP and Cespedes against LHP to keep him fresh at the DH spot. Cespedes will still be the regular in LF but I could see a situation where Marisnick replaces Cespedes in the OF after Yoenis’ 3rd plate appearance on most nights when they are leading.
They don’t have a plus defender anywhere on the field among their regulars. How many teams have made the playoffs using that model? Probably none.
I think the dh HELPS the Mets the most out of any team in the N.L. I understand it let’s L.A add another huge bat to that lineup, but they were already ahead of all the competition. This helps N.Y more because now we have above average hitters that didn’t have a spot, get a spot.
Wouldn’t you have Alonso DH and put Smith at 1B, if he plays? Smith is still the better defender.
agreed
Definitely!!
I imagine Alonso would DH and Smith would be at 1B, not the other way around. Smith is a much better defender
Disagree on two levels: First, “much better” is an overstatement. Alonso improved dramatically over the course of the season defensively, while Smith’s defense at the major league level has been less than advertised. The difference just isn’t that great to justify messing with a superstar of Alonso’s caliber. Alonso is a top-notch superstar, and the cornerstone and foundation of this team. Unless his defense is absolutely atrocious – which is not the case at all – he plays full time.
Cespedes new contract had details that stated if traded to an AL team the Mets would have to pay him an additional $2M where as if traded to a NL team it would be only a couple $100K. Now with the DH possibly coming to both leagues, Ces could be moved to an NL team and the Mets don’t have to worry about paying the $2M just to move Ces. This could allow the Mets to DH Cano and move McNeil to 2B, Davis to 3B and allow Smith to play LF.
Lets face it fellow Mets fans, Gooden, Darling, Carter and Hernandez aren’t walking through that door.