The Starting Lineup
6. C Travis d’Arnaud
7. 1B Lucas Duda
8. 2B Neil Walker
9. SS Asdrubal Cabrera
10. 3B David Wright
11. LF Yoenis Cespedes
12. CF Curtis Granderson
13. RF Jay Bruce
While it’s extremely likely that either Bruce or Granderson will get traded before spring training begins, for now they’re still both part of a Mets squad that hit 218 home runs last season.All one-through-eight spots in this lineup have significant enough power to hit some homers, with Granderson, Bruce, and Cespedes having all hit over 30 last season. Infield partners Walker and Cabrera both hit 23 shots in 2016, and, if healthy, Duda, Wright and d’Arnaud are all possible 20 homer threats as well.
Starting with that last ambitious proclamation, the chances that all three of those guys stay healthy next season are slim to none.
Duda has two 27-plus home run seasons under his belt, but he is extraordinarily streaky and only played 47 games in 2016.
Wright has taken part in only 75 games the last two years combined. A platoon will likely be used to keep The Captain healthy in 2017, pairing him with infielders like Wilmer Flores and Jose Reyes. But Wright did hit seven home runs in just 137 at-bats last season, showcasing some of the pop the 6-foot, 205 pound third baseman still possesses.
d’Arnaud had a .268/12 home run/41 RBI breakout campaign in only 67 games in 2015. But that success collapsed last season to just four homers in 75 games, while simultaneously showing a weaker throwing arm from behind the plate, as well as continued health issues. If that plague can somehow dissipate, Alderson could maybe finally see what his 27-year-old backstop can really do.
The middle infield power duo of Walker and Cabrera was a bright spot for the Mets when they were both healthy in 2016. The couple showed natural chemistry on plays up the middle, and that carried over into the lineup, as they batted near each other for a good chunk of the season.
If this trio of outfielders remains together, then this could be one of the quietly best outfields in franchise history. Each can hit for power, all have solid gloves, and Bruce and Cespedes especially have very strong arms from the corner spots. But if Grandy or Bruce are shipped away in the coming weeks, expect Michael Conforto to be the beneficiary of much more playing time.
