With some of the top prospects, the New York Mets’ farm system boasts, here’s what the team’s future roster could look like.
The New York Mets organization and its fans have been greeted by a mixed bag of good and bad news to start the offseason leading into the 2017 MLB year.The good news? Second baseman Neil Walker is coming back on his qualifying offer for next season at least. The Mets are expected to have their full arsenal of young pitching talent back to begin 2017. Starter Matt Harvey‘s agent Scott Boras believes his client will be his old self again when he comes back next season. Outfielder Jay Bruce‘s $13 million team option has also been picked up for 2017.
Now the bad news. There is no significant movement in talks for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to come back to Queens next season, and General Manager Sandy Alderson has expressed at the GM Meetings that he doesn’t want to wait around for him like last year. Closer Jeurys Familia has been arrested in New Jersey for a domestic violence incident. A suspension may come, but the MLB is currently letting the legal process play out first. Fan favorite and old-reliable in 43-year-old starter Bartolo ‘BigSexy’ Colon has moved on and signed with the division rival Atlanta Braves.
If there is one thing, though, that Alderson has done well during his six year run with the Mets, it’s building a strong farm system. So no matter how much New York fans overreact to big free-agent signings, or the lack thereof, the team always has had a strong and promising group of young kids in the minors ready to step up when their time comes.
So if Tim Tebow somehow impossibly doesn’t work out, who will the Mets have? Follow us as we take you through what each position group could look like on the Mets future roster.
The Middle Infield
This is probably where the Mets are the most rich in prospects — seven out of their MLB.com Top 30 are either shortstops or second basemen.SS Amed Rosario
No. 1 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30; No. 11 overall prospect on MLB Top 100
2016 Double A & Advanced A Stats – 120 games, .324/.374/.459, 65 runs, 24 doubles, 13 triples, five home runs, 71 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, 40 walks/87 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Indians SS Francisco Lindor
The 20-year-old Rosario was signed by the Mets in 2013 and has been at least three years younger than the average position player at every level he’s played at. At only 190 pounds with a 6-foot-2 frame, Rosario has plenty of room to grow his current gap-to-gap strength into major league home run power. He runs extremely well, pairing great range with outstanding arm strength, glove control, and athleticism at short.
Rosario is currently still at Double-A, but could possibly see the field for the Mets during the upcoming season. Many in the organization believe he will start Opening Day 2018, as next season is current SS Asdrubal Cabrera‘s final year under contract with the Mets.
SS Gavin Cecchini
No. 3 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30
2016 Triple-A Stats – 117 games, .325/.390/.448, 71 runs, 27 doubles, eight home runs, 55 RBIs, 48 walks/55 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Tigers SS Jose Iglesias
Cecchini finally made it to the show last season as a September call-up, gathering two doubles in six at-bats. His call-up was well deserved after an outstanding season at Triple-A, raising his career minor league average to .287 in the process. Cecchini will never be a power guy, but with his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, he has solid gap power that will translate well to the vast expanses of the Citi Field outfield.
Although Cecchini possesses an above average arm and glove, with solid speed and range to get to deeper balls, he doesn’t quite stand up to Rosario’s natural ability at short. So for that reason, it is more likely that Cecchini ends up as the Mets’ second baseman of the future. His shortstop ability, though, will make him a plus defender at second, increasing his value in the process.
INF T.J. Rivera
No. 30 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30
2016 Triple-A Stats – 105 games, .353/.393/.516, 67 runs, 31 doubles, 11 home runs, 85 RBIs, 23 walks/54 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Cubs 2B Ben Zobrist
In 33 short games with the Mets last season, Rivera hit an impressive .333 with three homers. In fact, in his six seasons in the minors, he has never hit below .301 in a full season of play. That reliable contact ability is what has risen Rivera’s stock from an undrafted free agent to, very likely, a role as at least a utility man for the Mets in the near future.
Rivera has played at first, second, third, short, and left field in his career, adding even more to his capabilities of one day being a Zobrist-type player. Because of his diverse and experienced glove, mixed with his consistent hitting, Rivera could force the Mets’ hand in 2018 and beyond for a starting role should he continue to perform well, possibly beating out Cecchini for a second base spot in the process.
The Corner Infield and Catcher
1B Dominic Smith
No. 2 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30; No. 54 overall prospect on MLB Top 100
2016 Double-A Stats – 130 games, .302/.367/.457, 64 runs, 29 doubles, 14 home runs, 91 RBIs, 50 walks/74 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – White Sox 1B Jose Abreu
Even with all 6-foot, 250 pounds of him behind his swing, Smith hit only 11 home runs during his first three professional seasons in the minor leagues. But that all changed last season when he hit 14 homers at Double-A, a sign Smith is starting to grow into his natural power. Since being drafted in the first round of the 2013 draft, Smith has shown solid contact rates and a great eye, never having an on-base-percentage lower than .344 in any of his seasons thus far. With a little more pop, he could become one of the league’s premier bats at first base.On top of his success at the plate, Smith has a plus glove at first, showing strong scooping ability and decent range for a man of his size (reminiscent of the Carlos Delgado days). If he can continue to develop his power, along with his already solid fielding ability, Mets fans could be looking at their future cleanup hitter in Smith.
3B Jhoan Urena & David Thompson
No. 17 & 24 prospects on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30
Urena’s 2016 Advanced A Stats – 115 games, .225/.301/.350, 52 runs, 17 doubles, nine home runs, 53 RBIs, 42 walks/75 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Red Sox 3B Pablo Sandoval
Thompson’s 2016 Single-A & Advanced A Stats – 116 games, .280/.333/.444, 74 runs, 34 doubles, 11 home runs, 95 RBIs, 29 walks/90 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Mariners 3B Danny Valencia
Urena, a switch hitter, was moving up the third base prospect ranks after a very successful 2014 season. After breaking both wrists in 2015 and missing most of the season, he fell off, but came back to re-solidify himself in 2016. Urena shows solid power from both sides of the plate, along with a smart batter’s eye. Mets brass remain convinced that his iffy glove will be saved by his strong throwing arm from the hot corner.
Thompson profiles as a guy who’s found a home at third mostly because that’s likely his path to the majors, with Smith blocking where he should probably be instead at first base. Even with his shaky glove and below average arm, Thompson’s way to Queens resides in his bat, as the one-time Yankees‘ draftee has good gap-to-gap power currently, but the home runs will come. Once he can learn to put all 220 pounds of himself behind his bat, with his refined college-taught hitting approach, he could sneak up on the Mets quicker than many thought.
INF Wilmer Flores
Many Mets fans neglect to remember that Flores is just 25-years-old and has hit 32 combined home runs over the last two seasons. He has a solid glove with the strong arm and range necessary to handle third, and with a bit more refinement at the plate, Flores could find himself starting there someday.
C Tomas Nido
No. 19 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30
2016 Advanced A Stats – 90 games, .320/.357/.459, 38 runs, 23 doubles, seven home runs, 46 RBIs, 19 walks/42 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – A’s C Stephen Vogt
Nido did well last year in an area the Mets have lacked behind the plate for some time – the ability to throw out base-stealers. In fact, he did so at a 42 percent clip, while also hitting for a high average. Out of high school, though, Nido often was pull-happy, but Mets coaches have had him use the entire field, resulting in major hitting improvements. If he continues ascending the catching prospect ranks, expect Nido to be in the majors around 2018, giving current starting catcher Travis d’Arnaud not much time to turn things around.
C Kevin Plawecki
Plawecki is still only 25-years-old, and just a couple years removed from being ranked the 59th prospect in baseball. After being sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas last season, he raked, hitting .300 with eight homers, 40 RBIs, and just 19 strikeouts in 55 games. Plawecki has also showed a solid arm from behind the plate, throwing out 32 percent of base-stealers last season at Las Vegas.
The Outfield
OF Brandon Nimmo – No. 5 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30
2016 Triple-A Stats – 97 games, .352/.423/.541, 72 runs, 25 doubles, eight triples, 11 home runs, 61 RBIs, seven stolen bases, 46 walks/73 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Cubs OF Dexter Fowler
Nimmo owns a career minor league on-base-percentage of .389, a number that would be welcome at the top of a Mets’ lineup that has been starved for a lead-off man for some time. In a preview of what the future could hold, Nimmo handled MLB pitching well in 2016, hitting .274 over 73 at-bats. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, he has some home run pop and could be an extra-base machine in the wide gaps of Citi Field.The long strides of Nimmo allow him to cover ground well in the field, and along with his average throwing arm, he can play all three outfield spots in the majors. Nimmo has played mostly center in his six professional seasons so far – a role the Mets do now and will continue to need for the future.
OF Desmond Lindsay – No. 6 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30
2016 Rookie League and Low-A Stats – 37 games, .303/.433/.451, 21 runs, six doubles, four home runs, 17 RBIs, three stolen bases, 25 walks/31 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Royals OF Lorenzo Cain
Although still in the lower minor league levels, Lindsay has an immense amount of pure athletic ability that could make him a talented and speedy center fielder. That athletic upside is what has made him place so high on the Mets’ prospect ranks so soon, as he was drafted only in 2015.
At the plate, Lindsay has shown a good eye, posting 25 walks in 37 games last season. At just 19-years-old, he still has to grow a bit more into his 6-foot, 200-pound body. Once he does that, though, his current gap-to-gap power will start to send pitches over the wall – progress that will no doubt carry him to Queens sooner rather than later.
OF Wuilmer Becerra – No. 7 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30
2016 Advanced A Stats – 65 games, .312/.341/.393, 27 runs, 17 doubles, one home run, 34 RBIs, seven stolen bases, nine walks/52 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Blue Jays OF Michael Saunders
As if the Mets haven’t won the RA Dickey trade with Toronto already, getting starter Noah Syndergaard and d’Arnaud out of it, Becerra could be another valuable piece slowly maturing from the deal. He has long profiled as a plus-power guy, and after an extremely successful 2015 campaign with 27 doubles, nine homers, 63 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and a .290 average, Becerra looked like the complete package. So although he did bump up to a .312 average in 2016, his power dropped off significantly with only a single home run.
Many in the Mets organization believe Becerra’s home run power will still come, but even if it doesn’t, he can still develop into a solid outfielder. He has just an average glove, but with decent speed and an above-average arm, Becerra fits in well as a prototypical right fielder. If he can get his bat to have a little more pop, he could make it to the majors in a couple years.
OF Michael Conforto
Arriving in the majors just over a year after signing with the Mets, Conforto hit immediately in 2015, posting a .270 average with nine homers and 26 RBIs in just 56 games. The sophomore slump came heavy in 2016 though, as his average dropped to .220 over 109 games. But the Mets still believe in Conforto and fans should too. With Becerra and Lindsay still a way away from the majors, the Mets are looking for Conforto to grab a starting job firmly now, especially with outfielder Curtis Granderson and Bruce both on the last years of their deals in 2017. His plus-power hitting ability, solid athleticism, and good glove should be enough to make Conforto a great major league outfielder.
The Starters
The Mets are lucky in that they are in contractual control of their young, talented pitching rotation for the near future. But as the old baseball adage goes, you can never have enough good pitching. These pitchers are the next in line for the Mets organization.RHP Robert Gsellman – No. 14 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30
2016 Triple A and Double A Stats – 4-9 record, 115 innings pitched, 3.99 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 10 homers allowed, 31 walks/88 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Indians RHP Josh Tomlin
Gsellman had sub-3.00 ERAs each of the last three seasons prior to his 2016 campaign, but last season may have been his most meaningful so far. After being called up to the majors in late August, Gsellman managed a 2.42 ERA and four wins. That performance was a main reason that, with all the injuries that decimated the Mets’ rotation, they were still able to make the postseason.
Although he only profiles as a back-end starter in the long run, the consistency and clutch ability he showed last season points to the fact that he can be called upon whenever the Mets need him.
RHP Justin Dunn – No. 4 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30
2016 Low A Stats – 1-1 record, 30 innings pitched, 1.50 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, one homer allowed, 10 walks/35 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Royals RHP Yordano Ventura
Dunn is a complete power pitcher, possessing a mid-to-upper 90s fastball, a power curve and a hard, diving slider. That gas has helped him dominate Low A ball over 11 games, eight of which were starts.
Just like Ventura, if he can reign in and control his power arm, Dunn could develop into a middle-of-the-rotation starter or better. There is a chance that he could revert to the bullpen though, as he was a reliever at Boston College. But even if his stamina is never able to develop and he goes to a relief role, Dunn will no doubt be just as impressive there too.
LHP Thomas Szapucki – No. 8 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30
2016 Rookie League and Low-A Stats – 4-3 record, 52 innings pitched, 1.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, two homers allowed, 20 walks/86 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Mets LHP Steven Matz
Szapucki owns a wicked power curve that he pairs with a 92-97 mph fastball. That combo, along with an improving changeup, makes Szapucki a rare power lefty. When scouts hear that, many think that that breed of southpaw is destined for the bullpen. The Mets, however, have a recent success story in Matz that makes them believe that the nearly six innings per start that Szapucki owned in 2016 is a sign he’ll someday reside in their rotation.
The only hindrance to his success in the future is his somewhat mechanically unsound delivery and release. Szapucki needs to make everything more repeatable in his delivery so he can control his release point better, as well as avoid unnecessary injury. But if Szapucki can do that, he’ll be another extremely valuable lefty for the Mets.
The Bullpen
RHP Hansel Robles
2016 MLB Stats – 77.2 innings pitched, 3.48 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, seven homers allowed, 36 walks/ 85 strikeouts
Mets fans are used to hearing Robles’ name, as he’s been a significant part of the major league club for two years now. So it’s easy to forget he turned just 26-years-old during the 2016 season.Robles profiles as a closer-type, consistently pounding the zone with a mid-to-upper 90s fastball and two hard offspeed pitches in a changeup and a whipping slider. Those strengths have resulted in high strikeout numbers from Robles, but he walked more batters last season, perhaps due to the typical overthrowing of a young fireballer. But with Familia’s situation still pending and reliever Addison Reed nearing the end of his current deal, it’s possible Robles will have a much more prominent role for the Mets in the not too distant future.
LHP Josh Smoker – No. 27 prospect on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30
2016 Triple-A Stats – 57 innings pitched, 4.11 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, five homers allowed, 18 walks/ 81 strikeouts
MLB Player Comparison – Reds LHP Tony Cingrani
A first-round pick by the Nationals in 2007, Smoker has always featured an intense fastball that sits at 95-98 mph and gets on hitters quick. His slider and splitter are fringe major league pitches, but with some more refinement, he could be a nice power lefty for the Mets out of the ‘pen for a while – he won’t be a free agent until 2023 at the earliest.
Smoker needs to fix one thing and one thing only though: his pitch control. If he can get that even marginally more under wraps, the sky is the limit with his power stuff, whether as a lefty specialist or more.