Is there a better antidote for the winter blues than the return of baseball?
Spring Training has begun, and spirits are high in Port St. Lucie. With Grapefruit League games starting, these are the storylines that will draw the most attention at Mets camp.
Mr. Smile’s Arrival
Call it charisma, the x-factor, a certain je ne sais quoi.
Whatever it is, Francisco Lindor has it.
The shortstop reported to Mets camp this week, his signature megawatt smile and effervescent personality firmly in tow.
Lindor is a great player, but he brings so much more than just on-field talent. He is a marketing director’s dream, exuding confidence and style even when out of uniform. The 27-year-old could lift the Mets to new heights this season, but what about years to come? Lindor, who is a free agent after this year, says he has not yet discussed a contract extension with Mets brass. Lindor’s infectious confidence will be the talk of camp, as will the lingering question of his future with the club.
Fernando Tatis Jr. recently inked a 14 year, $340 million deal with the Padres, and it’s very possible that Lindor’s eventual contract will approach the $300 million mark.
Dom’s Defense
I’m not breaking new ground when I say that the Mets would greatly benefit from the universal DH in 2021. Alas, as things currently stand, pitchers will hit in the National League.
The lack of DH presents a conundrum for the Amazin’s. The team has two very capable young first basemen in Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith. And while Alonso fell victim to the dreaded sophomore slump in 2020, he still has the raw power to crush 40+ homers in a full season.
For the Mets to have both Alonso and Smith in the same lineup, Smith will have to man left field. Smith has played just over 470 career innings in left, where he’s been subpar (-5 Outs Above Average in LF since 2019). That sample size represents about a third of a season, so his performance may be more reflective of inexperience than lack of skill. Even if Smith ups his game, putting him in left is a less-than-ideal solution for a team looking to plug major defensive holes.
McCann’s the Man
No offense to Wilson Ramos, but I’ve seen statues with more range.
The Buffalo’s lack of mobility behind the dish, coupled with his inadequate pitch framing skills and inability to stop the running game, hampered the Mets in each of the last two seasons. Ramos is now in Detroit after departing via free agency, replaced in Queens by 2019 All-Star James McCann.
McCann is a late bloomer, evolving from a glove-first backstop to one of the game’s most productive offensive catchers since the start of 2019 (if you can believe it, his wRC+ in that span is higher than that of J.T. Realmuto).
McCann’s breakout can be attributed to a series of adjustments he’s made, both at the plate and behind it. In recent years, he’s opened up his stance and added a leg kick to be quicker to high-velocity pitches and increase his power. Defensively, he worked with catching guru Jerry Narron to improve his catch framing, especially on pitches low in the zone. The transformation was striking: McCann went from ranking 35th out of 37 catchers in Statcast’s pitch framing metric in 2019 to a Gold Glove finalist in 2020.
McCann’s ability to communicate with the pitching staff will also be paramount to the club’s 2021 outlook.
Guillorme’s Glove
Guillorme’s graceful glovework guarantees that he will be on the Opening Day roster.
The 26-year-old infielder also surprised with the bat last season, posting a .333 average and .865 OPS over 29 games. The Mets don’t need him to reproduce those numbers on offense, but they will call upon him frequently as a late-game defensive replacement.
Guillorme represents a major defensive upgrade over J.D. Davis, and skipper Luis Rojas has been reluctant to commit to Davis as his club’s primary third baseman. If Davis’s defensive woes become more glaring this spring, Guillorme could receive more starts at the position.
Potential Pen Problems
Flawless one year and feeble the next, bullpens are the most mercurial component of an MLB roster.
As it currently stands, the Mets bullpen is full of question marks. Edwin Díaz returned to form in 2020 (1.75 ERA, 17.5 K/9), but can he sustain that level of performance with fans in the stands?
And although Trevor May and veteran lefty Aaron Loup were solid offseason additions, the team’s middle relief is a source of uncertainty. Seth Lugo will miss at least a month to recover from elbow surgery, leaving Luis Rojas with few reliable options to bridge the gap between his starting pitchers and the back end of his pen.
Dellin Betances battled mechanical and health issues in his debut season in Queens, while Jeurys Familia (1.65 WHIP since 2019) is a constant source of agita. Rebounds from both pitchers would do wonders for the team’s fortunes, as would the emergence of high-upside hurlers like Miguel Castro.
Searle’s Final Say
The Mets have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic this spring, including the arrival of Francisco Lindor and the continued progress of franchise cornerstones like Michael Conforto. When he first took the helm, owner Steve Cohen claimed that failure to win a World Series within the next 3-5 years would be considered a disappointment. In 2021, the Mets will take the first step toward achieving that goal.
