Mets on the bubble

Cast your vote

ANDREW BROWN, OF
Career: .224, 5 HR, 14 RBIs
2012: .232, 5 HR, 11 RBIs
The Mets are pressing backup outfielders into work as starters on their depth chart, showing just how shallow their outfield talent pool is. Brown is competing for a backup outfield job, with a chance to start. He has some power and can play the outfield corners. He's competing with Marlon Byrd and Collin Cowgill for one or two spots.
Photo Credit: AP

Cast your vote

MARLON BYRD, OF
Career: .278, 82 HR, 445 RBIs
2012: .210, 1 HR, 9 RBIs
Byrd had a dismal year at the plate in 2012 and was suspended for using a banned substance. He looks to reclaim some of what was once a bright career, now as a backup outfielder, with a chance to start. Byrd hit at least .276 every season from 2007-2011 and posted double-digit home run totals from 2007-2010. He's competing with Andrew Brown and Collin Cowgill for one or two spots, but may have a leg up due to his experience.
Photo Credit: AP

Cast your vote

COLLIN COWGILL, OF
Career: .255, 2 HR, 18 RBIs
2012: .269, 1 HR, 9 RBIs
Cowgill hasn't seen much playing time, but demonstrated an ability to hit for contact with the A's in 2012. Plus, he can play all three outfield spots, spending most of his time in center and left field. He's competing with Andrew Brown and Marlon Byrd for one or two spots.
Photo Credit: AP

Cast your vote

TRAVIS D'ARNAUD, C
Career: .286, 66 HR, 289 RBIs (minors)
2012: .333, 16 HR, 52 RBIs (minors)
The Mets probably don't want to start d'Arnaud's service clock so soon, but it's not like they have top flight talent at the catching position. John Buck? Anthony Recker? Landon Powell? Not exactly an inspiring trio. The prize in the R.A. Dickey trade, d'Arnaud is one of the top prospects in all of baseball and would at least bring a measure of excitement to Citi Field if the team doesn't contend.
Photo Credit: AP

Cast your vote

JEURYS FAMILIA, RHP
Career: 0-0, 5.84 ERA, 1.54 WHIP
2012: 0-0, 5.84 ERA, 1.54 WHIP
Familia had a rough debut with the Mets in 2012, but he's only 23 and has strong numbers in the minors — 544 strikeouts in 567.2 innings with a 3.85 ERA. He was used mainly in relief in the majors, but almost exclusively as a starter in the minors. He could either provide starter insurance in Triple-A or challenge for a role in the MLB bullpen.
Photo Credit: AP

Cast your vote

JEREMY HEFNER, RHP
Career: 4-7, 5.09 ERA, 1.36 WHIP
2012: 4-7, 5.09 ERA, 1.36 WHIP
A slew of recent signings has put Mets bullpen spots at a premium, and Hefner is looking to hook on as a spot starter or long reliever. If that fails, he could serve as depth at Triple-A. He's up against a host of candidates.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cast your vote

AARON LAFFEY, LHP
Career: 25-29, 4.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
2012: 4-6, 4.56 ERA, 1.36 WHIP
If recent minor-league signing Pedro Feliciano is unable to recapture his pre-2011 form, Laffey could try to slide in as a second lefty alongside Josh Edgin. Laffey also has experience starting, including 16 games for Toronto in 2012, which could earn him consideration as a long reliever or spot-starter candidate as well.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cast your vote

ZACH LUTZ, INF
Career: .288, 55 HR, 206 RBIs (minors)
2012: .295, 11 HR, 43 RBIs (minors)
Lutz certainly isn't the biggest name the Mets will have in camp this spring, but his ability to play the corner infield spots makes him a nice bench complement for Justin Turner, who has the middle infield backup role locked up. Lutz will turn 27 during the 2013 season, so he's not exactly a “prospect,” meaning the Mets shouldn't worry about having his development stunted by languishing on the major league bench. After all, when you're playing behind Ike Davis and David Wright, you're not going to see a lot of playing time.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cast your vote

COLLIN MCHUGH, RHP
Career: 0-4, 7.59 ERA, 1.64 WHIP
2012: 0-4, 7.59 ERA, 1.64 WHIP
After a stellar debut for McHugh in 2012 (seven shutout innings against the Rockies), he fell back to Earth. His best hope at the majors to start 2013 is an injury to a starter and Jeremy Hefner (who would likely get first crack) or a strong spring that shows he could serve as a long man or spot-starter.
Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac

Cast your vote

JENRRY MEJIA, RHP
Career: 1-6, 4.91 ERA, 1.72 WHIP
2012: 1-2, 5.63 ERA, 1.81 WHIP
Mejia was the Mets’ top starting pitching prospect several years ago before Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler came along. Now he's unlikely to get a spot with the team unless it's as a reliever. But that's not necessarily a bad thing: Mejia has a 7.03 ERA in six starts, but a 3.23 ERA in 32 career relief appearances. Plus, he's only 23.
Photo Credit: AP

Cast your vote

LANDON POWELL, C
Career: .207, 10 HR, 45 RBIs
2012: Played in minors
Powell isn't on the 40-man roster, so he faces an uphill climb to nab the backup catcher spot. But aside from presumed starter John Buck, he has the most catching experience of anyone the Mets will have in camp, batting .207 with 10 home runs in 123 games. That's an upgrade over 40-man catcher Anthony Recker.
Photo Credit: AP, 2011

Cast your vote

ANTHONY RECKER, C
Career: .152, 1 HR, 4 RBIs
2012: .143, 1 HR, 4 RBIs
Recker is on the 40-man roster, and it's unlikely the team wants to start top prospect Travis d'Arnaud in the majors, increasing Recker's chances at claiming the backup catcher job. But he's just a .152 hitter in 27 career games, and the Mets may opt for the more experienced Landon Powell.
Photo Credit: AP

Cast your vote

JORDANY VALDESPIN, INF/OF
Career: .241, 8 HR, 26 RBIs
2012: .241, 8 HR, 26 RBIs
Valdespin saw time in all three outfield spots and at second base and shortstop in 2012. Not that he was a particularly great fielder, especially at shortstop, where he made three errors in 18.2 innings. But one thing Valdespin can do is come up with big hits off the bench, making him an ideal fit for a pinch-hitter in 2013. Five of his home runs and 10 of his RBIs came as a pinch-hitter and he posted an .805 on-base plus slugging percentage as a sub. Valdespin had just a .661 OPS in 34 starts.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cast your vote

ZACK WHEELER, RHP
Career: 24-18, 3.49 ERA, 1.27 WHIP (minors)
2012: 12-8, 3.26 ERA, 1.16 WHIP (minors)
It would take an awful lot for the Mets to let Wheeler break camp with the team, starting his service clock so soon and during a season where they're not likely to contend. But if anyone can push for a role, it's Wheeler, who has 347 strikeouts in 322.2 minor league innings. Johan Santana has health concerns. Shaun Marcum wasn't very effective at the end of 2012 and we haven't seen Dillon Gee pitch in awhile. Do Jeremy Hefner or Collin McHugh deserve a role before Wheeler?
Photo Credit: Getty Images

Mets on the bubble

Comments

Services

Our Network