The Mets have reshaped their roster over the last year and change, saying goodbye to some familiar faces (some beloved, some not) in the process. Every week, we'll take a look at how some of those former Mets are performing with their new teams...

Anthony Kay, Blue Jays

After two no-decision starts, including Sept. 13's 4.1-inning struggle against the Yankees, Kay bounced back in last Thursday's outing at Baltimore. In his first career appearance as an MLB reliever, the southpaw logged 4.0 innings from the third frame all the way through the sixth, limiting the Orioles to two runs on four hits with three strikeouts to one walks. At the end of Toronto's 8-4 victory, Kay was credited with his first career win. Through three games (two starts), Kay is 1-0 with a 5.79 ERA and 13 strikeouts to five walks over 14.0 innings.

The Mets have reshaped their roster over the last year and change, saying goodbye to some familiar faces (some beloved, some not) in the process. Every week, we'll take a look at how some of those former Mets are performing with their new teams...

Anthony Kay, Blue Jays

The lefty lasted 4.1 inning against the Yankees on Sept. 13, allowing five earned runs on seven hits. However, he got a no-decision in the game and has yet to record a win or loss in two career starts.

The Mets have reshaped their roster over the last year and change, saying goodbye to some familiar faces (some beloved, some not) in the process. Every week, we'll take a look at how some of those former Mets are performing with their new teams...

Wilmer Flores, Diamondbacks

Mets fans know that when Wilmer Flores gets hot, he's an awfully tough out, and that's exactly what he's been for the D-backs of late. The former Mets infielder is 13-for-26 in his last seven games, compiling a robust slash line of .500/.536/.846 with two homers and seven RBI. All of this despite a nagging back issue which is forcing him in and out of the Arizona lineup.

The Mets have reshaped their roster over the last year and change, saying goodbye to some familiar faces (some beloved, some not) in the process. Every week, we'll take a look at how some of those former Mets are performing with their new teams...

Adeiny Hechavarria, Braves

After being released by the Mets earlier this month, the Braves signed Hechavarria to provide a stopgap at shortstop while Dansby Swanson recovers from an injury. He contributed in a big way against his former team on Friday, doubling in the go-ahead run in the 14th inning to give the Braves a 2-1 lead and the eventual win. 

The Mets have reshaped their roster over the last year and change, saying goodbye to some familiar faces (some beloved, some not) in the process. Every week, we'll take a look at how some of those former Mets are performing with their new teams...

Asdrubal Cabrera, Nationals

Cabrera has had a relative resurgence since joining the Nationals, going 9-for-26 with five RBI in eight games. He singled in his only at-bat on Sunday and added two multi-hit games to his ledger in the past week. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen has spoken repeatedly about eliminating the team's "ifs" for the 2019 season. Over the weekend, he executed a series of trades intended to do just that.

Time will tell if Van Wagenen and his evaluators chose the right players to acquire, or parted with a prospect who will develop into a productive major leaguer. But the GM's goal was to create contingency plans that will at least reduce the number of ifs on the roster.

The Mets weren't done making moves Sunday, as they announced a deal that sent C Kevin Plawecki to the Indians.

Plawecki goes to Cleveland in exchange for RHP Walker Lockett and minor league INF Sam Haggerty. 

With the addition of Wilson Ramos, the Mets needed had four catchers on the roster, including Travis d'Arnaud, who was tendered a contract earlier this offseason. In turn, Van Wagenen needed to get a catcher off the roster, and the team was "getting a lot of hits" from other teams on Plawecki, per SNY's Andy Martino.

The Mets and C Travis d'Arnaud have avoided arbitration, as New York settled with a one-year, $3.515 million deal for 2019, according to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale.

SNY's Andy Martino noted the Mets planned to stick with d'Arnaud, who they tendered, after signing free-agent C Wilson Ramos to a two-year deal. They view Kevin Plawecki as expendable, and they are moving forward with trying to trade him. 

D'Arnaud only played four games last season, as he was shut down following Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow. He was projected to receive $3.7 million through arbitration this season. 

The Mets are "getting a lot of hits" from other teams on their catchers since signing Wilson Ramos, and are moving ahead with trade talks regarding Kevin Plawecki in particular, according to major league sources.

In pursuit of a lefty reliever or general bullpen depth, the Mets have made clear that Plawecki is more available than Travis d'Arnaud, who might see time at multiple positions in 2018.

After the Mets agreed to a deal with catcher Wilson Ramos and took themselves out of the J.T. Realmuto sweepstakes, the Mets plan to stick with Travis d'Arnaud and explore a trade of Kevin Plawecki, a source told SNY.tv's Andy Martino.

The Mets are still looking for a center fielder and a left-handed reliever, according to Fancred's Jon Heyman, and with Ramos and d'Arnaud, Plawecki is expendable.

Plawecki, 27, hit .210/.315/.370 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 79 games for the Mets last year, however Ramos is a significant upgrade to the lineup.

While the Mets have showed interest in free-agent catchers Wilson Ramos and Yasmani Grandal, they appear to have competition in the Los Angeles Angels.

Ramos, with whom the Mets met earlier in the week, is the Angels' No. 1 catching target, according to Jerry Crasnick, while the Los Angeles Times' Maria Torres reports they are also pursuing Grandal.

Though Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen expressed his confidence in the catching tandem of Travis d'Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki, he has not shied away at upgrades at the position, including a potential trade for Marlins All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto.

The Mets continue contacting the Marlins about All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto.

The catcher and his agent have been vocal about wanting to be traded from the rebuilding Marlins to a winning team that could be interested in signing him to a long-term contract extension. He is likely to earn a combined $15-20 million the next two seasons, after which he'll be a free agent at age 29.

The Fish, who have traded away most of their assets under the new ownership that includes former Yankee captain Derek Jeter, have made it clear they would want a king's ransom of prospects and players in return.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter | Why is it that the more Brodie Van Wagenen insists Travis d'Arnaud could still be a big part of the Mets' catching solution, the more I think of Bubba Crosby.

For the most part, Van Wagenen has made a good early impression in his transition from agent to the Mets' front office, and falling into GM-speak is to be expected, but one thing fans don't want to hear is that all is well on the catching front.

Yet the new GM has spoken excitedly of d'Arnaud's potential, even coming off Tommy John surgery, as if the last five seasons hadn't already happened...

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | Getting an upgrade at catcher should be one of the main goals for the Mets this offseason, as new GM Brodie Van Wagenen looks to add to what he believes is a strong core -- with the aim being to win now.

Kevin Plawecki hit .210/.315/.370 with seven homers in 79 games in 2018 while playing average defense. That .370 slugging percentage put him in the middle of the pack for all catchers. But while he may still have some room to grow, Plawecki profiles better as a backup, and will likely be in that role in 2019 with the team potentially non-tendering Travis d'Arnaud, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The Mets don't have any answers at catcher in the upper levels of the minors, so -- if Plawecki isn't the starter -- they'll need to go outside the organization for their 2019 everyday catcher...

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | Getting an upgrade at catcher should be one of the main goals for the Mets this offseason, as new GM Brodie Van Wagenen looks to add to what he believes is a strong core -- with the aim being to win now.

Kevin Plawecki hit .210/.315/.370 with seven homers in 79 games in 2018 while playing average defense. That .370 slugging percentage put him in the middle of the pack for all catchers. But while he may still have some room to grow, Plawecki profiles better as a backup, and will likely be in that role in 2019 with the team potentially non-tendering Travis d'Arnaud, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The Mets don't have any answers at catcher in the upper levels of the minors, so -- if Plawecki isn't the starter -- they'll need to go outside the organization for their 2019 everyday catcher...

Mets C Travis D'Arnaud had Tommy John surgery this past April, which means the starting catcher job in 2019 is now wide open.

D'Arnaud, who will be 30 years next February, is expected to be out through the first few months of next season. He's also eligible for arbitration this winter and could end up earning as much as $4 million next season, after which he can be a free agent for the first time in his career.

My hunch is the Mets will cut d'Arnaud loose and use the saved money to hopefully help in acquiring a more -productive, proven, everyday starting catcher. Even if cut, I expect d'Arnaud will sign a lesser deal to remain with the Mets, with whom he can continue his rehab with trainers that know in St. Lucie.

Mets RHP Zack Wheeler and C Kevin Plawecki received CT scans before the team flew back to New York, and luckily, they both came back negative, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Wheeler, who was hit by a line drive during Wednesday night's win over the Dodgers, underwent X-rays, which came back clean. Plawecki was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning, which forced him out of the game. 

Plawecki, who missed time earlier in the season with a hand injury, is hitting .237 with five home runs and 25 RBI in 194 at-bats this season for the Mets. 

In late 2014, early 2015, Mets C Kevin Plawecki was widely considered the second-best catching prospect in baseball, according to more or less every every published top prospect list.

Three and a half years later, after years of being labeled only a backup catcher, he's starting to show that maybe, possibly, he can be counted on as every day catcher for the Mets.

Prior to his first call-up during the summer of 2015, Plawecki was often labeled by scouts as an "offensive catcher," mostly due to his average defensive skills, short, simple swing and impressive contact rate...

Amed Rosario, Austin Jackson, and Kevin Plawecki each drove in runs to back Zack Wheeler's strong outing on Saturday night as the Mets shut out the Braves, 3-0

For a full box score of the game, click here.

Things you should know about tonight's game...

1) Zack Wheeler pitched seven scoreless innings struck out nine batters. The Braves mustered only three hits against Wheeler, who struck out nine batters and walked one. Freddie Freeman had a pair of hits -- including the Braves' first hit of the game in the fourth inning -- and Tyler Flowers had a single in the fifth inning, but the Braves otherwise could not get anything going against Wheeler.

Mets C Kevin Plawecki crushes a game-tying three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth off Dodgers RHP Erik Goeddel.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | The MLB Draft is Monday night, with the Mets holding the No. 6 pick and connected to a pair of college third basemen. Before they make their selection, let's take a look back at the Mets' first round picks during the Sandy Alderson era...

2011, No. 13: Brandon Nimmo, OF, Cheyenne East High School (Cheyenne, Wyoming)

With his first pick as Mets GM, Alderson selected Nimmo -- who did not play high school baseball since Wyoming was one of three states without it. Instead, he played American Legion ball. This selection was bashed by some soon after and in the years following, and it seems that bashing was way off. Nimmo, 25, is hitting .276/.421/.559 with seven HR this season while establishing himself as an offensive catalyst... 

Mets C Kevin Plawecki will find himself in largely uncharted territory on Saturday night against the Cubs: grabbing a first base glove instead of putting on his catching gear.

Plawecki started two games at first base in 2017. The other 153 games he's started during his career have been at catcher. He also started 22 games at first base in the minors.

"I view myself as a catcher and I think I'm pretty damn good at it, but at the same time I have fun at first base too," Plawecki said...

Seeking more punch against left-handed starting pitchers, righty-hitting Kevin Plawecki will make his first start of the season at first base when the Mets face Cubs left-hander Mike Montgomery on Saturday night, manager Mickey Callaway said on Friday.

Plawecki started two games at first base in 2017. The other 153 games he's started during his career have been at catcher.

The Mets' decision to call up catcher Jose Lobaton Friday night (giving them three catchers on the 25-man roster) was so they could use Plawecki at first base.

After a slew of injurires, the Mets have recalled C Kevin Plawecki, RHP Hansel Robles, and INF Phillip Evans ahead of their doubleheader against the Braves on Monday. 

Plawecki, who has been out since April 11, returns to the Mets after rehabbing the hairline fracture in his right hand. He sustained the injury after getting hit during an at-bat. He recently caught nine innings for Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday, and belted a two-run homer on Wednesday night. 

Tomas Nido was sent down to make room for Plawecki...

Mets C Kevin Plawecki, RHP Gerson Bautista, and RHP Hansel Robles will join the Mets in Atlanta for potential activation.

Plawecki, who has been sidelined since April 11, has been playing in rehab games as he works his way back from a hairline fracture in his left hand.

He caught nine innings for Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday and hit a two-run homer on Wednesday night. His grip strength improved earlier in the month and he started hitting shortly thereafter. 

Kevin Plawecki started at catcher and went 1-for-3 while catching seven innings Thursday night during his second rehab game with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Plawecki hit a two-run homer Wednesday night as he began his rehab assignment. 

He has been out since April 11 due to a hairline fracture in his left hand. Grip strength in Plawecki's left hand doubled earlier this month, and he began a hitting progression shortly after.

Kevin Plawecki started at catcher and went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer Wednesday night as he begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas. 

Plawecki has been out since April 11 due to a hairline fracture in his left hand. Grip strength in Plawecki's left hand doubled earlier this month, and he began a hitting progression shortly after.

Without Plawecki and Travis d'Arnaud (who is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery), the Mets have been using a combination of Devin Mesoraco and Tomas Nido behind the plate recently. 

Mets C Kevin Plawecki will join Triple-A Las Vegas Tuesday and begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday. Plawecki has been out since April 11 due to a hairline fracture in his left hand.

Grip strength in Plawecki's left hand doubled earlier this month, and he began a hitting progression shortly after.

Without Plawecki and Travis d'Arnaud (who is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery), the Mets have been using a combination of Devin Mesoraco and Tomas Nido behind the plate recently. ..

The Mets outrighted catcher Jose Lobaton to Triple-A Las Vegas, two days after designating him for assignment, according to MetsMerized's Jacob Resnick.

Lobaton hit .152 with no home runs and three RBIs with the Mets, being replaced on the active roster by Tomas Nido's promotion to the majors and New York's acquisition of Devin Mesoraco in the Matt Harvey trade earlier this month.

Doug Williams and Andy Martino are back for another episode of Shea Anything, where they take their first real look at Mickey Callaway's job performance managing the Mets. They also discuss the Matt Harvey trade to Cincinnati and all the twists and turns that led to the deal.

Devin Mesoraco -- the man who the Mets received in the trade -- is also a topic of conversation as the guys take a look at the catching position and how it'll change once Kevin Plawecki returns from injury. And, finally, Dominic Smith is called up to the big leagues, but is it just for a few games? The guys discuss that as well, and why Dom may not be the type of player the organization really wants.]

Click below to listen...

Mets C Kevin Plawecki is heading to Florida to ramp up his rehab and hopes to begin a rehab assignment in about a week, he told reporters on Friday.

Grip strength in Plawecki's left hand doubled earlier this week and he began a hitting progression on Wednesday.

Plawecki has been out since April 11 due to a hairline fracture in his left hand, and Mets GM Sandy Alderson said last week that once Plawecki showed improvement with his grip strength that his return could happen "very rapidly."

Grip strength in Kevin Plawecki's left hand has doubled over the last few days and he will start a hitting progression on Wednesday.

Plawecki, who played catch for the first time on Tuesday, told reporters the news is "a nice change of pace."

Plawecki has been out since April 11 due to a hairline fracture in his left hand, and Mets GM Sandy Alderson said last week that once Plawecki showed improvement with his grip strength that his return could happen "very rapidly."

Mickey Callaway is doing the right thing for the Mets, it just doesn't feel like it right now because they're losing more than they're winning.

The Mets are 3-9 since starting the season 15-6. Yet, team insiders say Callaway is saying, behaving and doing the same things with his players in May that he was doing during all of April.

Regardless of wins, losses, streaks, or struggles, he has continued to press a team-first mindset, which most recently was on display when the organization DFA'd Matt Harvey and skipped Jacob deGrom in the rotation...

The Mets need better catchers behind the plate than rookie Tomas Nido and veteran Jose Lobaton, who are hitting a combined .150. 

Lobaton is a useful second-string catcher. He should not be an everyday player or even a platoon guy. And, while Nido has the tools and talent to eventually be an everyday guy, he's too young and inexperienced to be charged with leading Mickey Callaway's pitching staff.

For instance, Noah Syndergaard (2-1, 3.09 ERA) struck out five batters, allowed two runs, six hits and four walks during his six innings Sunday against the Rockies. In his view, it was a "mediocre start," which is also how he categorized his previous three starts, during which he has a 3.20 ERA, is winless and the Mets are 1-3...

Mets GM Sandy Alderson said six days ago that Kevin Plawecki was at least another week away from returning from a broken hand that has kept him out since April 11. Since then, there have been no new updates on Plawecki, who has been throwing but not catching or hitting as he works his way back. 

"The grip strength hasn't improved to this point," Alderson said. "There's still a little pain in the hand." Alderson noted that once Plawecki shows improvement on the grip strength, his return could happen "very rapidly."

Without Plawecki and Travis d'Arnaud (who is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery), the Mets have been using a combination of rookie Tomas Nido and veteran Jose Lobaton behind the plate...

Mets GM Sandy Alderson said Tomas Nido and Jose Lobaton "haven't been contributing much on the offensive side" while being good defensively, and that he's open to improving the catching situation with an external acquisition.

"The situation with the catching, you can go out and look for a significant improvement, or you can look for an incremental improvement," Alderson said, noting that he has to weigh whether an incremental improvement would be worth it due to the "lack of familiarity" a new catcher will have with the pitching staff. Alderson added that the team has "looked at a significant improvement, and we just don't think that's available."

Matthew Cerrone (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Contact): I've seen reports indicating the Mets are not talking to teams about trading for a catcher, and I think that's true. That said, I have no doubt they've been in contact with free-agent C Miguel Montero, who was designated for assignment by the Nationals and declared a free agent last month...

Mets C Kevin Plawecki (broken left hand) is expected to be out at least another week, GM Sandy Alderson said on Tuesday.

Plawecki has been out since April 11, and the initial expectation was that he would miss three-to-four weeks, but Alderson said Tuesday that the absence would be "at least" four weeks.

"The grip strength hasn't improved to this point," Alderson said. "There's still a little pain in the hand."

Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki has begun throwing again after breaking his non-throwing left hand when he was hit by a pitch 2 1/2 weeks ago in Miami, according to The Record's Matt Ehalt. Ehalt also reported Plawecki has yet to catch yet during his rehab process.

After the injury, Plawecki said he expected  to return quickly.

The injury was initially viewed as short-term, with Plawecki expected to return in as little as two-to-three weeks, according to SNY's Steve Gelbs.

The Mets had given a timeframe of three-to-four weeks, though Plawecki said that three weeks would be on the longer end of what he thought the rehab period would be.

The Mets are 'kicking the tires' on trading for a catcher but aren't having much luck, according to Mike Puma of NY Post.

With Travis d'Arnaud (partially torn UCL) likely out for the season and Kevin Plawecki (fractured hand) out for a few weeks, the Mets have gone from what they hoped would be an effective platoon behind the plate to a crisis. Currently, the Mets have Tomas Nido and Jose Lobaton as their catching options. 

According to Matt Ehalt of The Record, the team has made some calls but they are not willing to overpay. A popular name fans hope the Mets will turn to is Marlins C JT Realmuto, but Ehalt also notes that there is 'some hesitation as to whether Realmuto is actually available.'

The Mets reportedly have not reached out to the Boston Red Sox or Tampa Bay Rays regarding a catcher after their two starters were placed on the disabled list last week, according to the New York Daily News' Kristie Ackert.

New York has gone with a combination of Tomas Nido and Jose Lobaton after it placed Travis d'Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki on the DL with, respectively, a partially torn UCL and a hairline fracture in Plawecki's left hand.

The Mets made repeated inquiries with the Marlins this offseason about trading for catcher J.T. Realmuto, and will "at some point try to revisit the Realmuto situation," Ken Rosenthal said Monday on Fox Sports. 

Mike Puma of the NY Post reported last week that the Mets had expressed interest in Realmuto, though he didn't specify when they reached out.

Mets C Kevin Plawecki suffered a broken left hand when he was hit by a pitch during Wednesday night's game against the Marlins in Miami, and expects to return quickly.

The injury is viewed as short-term, with Plawecki expected to return in as little as two-to-three weeks, according to SNY's Gelbs.

The Mets had given a timeframe of three-to-four weeks, though Plawecki said Friday that three weeks would be on the longer end of what he thought it would be...

The Mets are comfortable at catcher for now, but that could change relatively quickly, GM Sandy Alderson said Friday at Citi Field.

"I think we're comfortable for the very short-term," Alderson said. "We'll see how things go." But the Mets will monitor and be aware of the trade market and their current comfort level "certainly could change"

With Travis d'Arnaud likely done for the season due to Tommy John surgery, and Kevin Plawecki expected to miss three-to-four weeks due to a broken left hand, the Mets have turned to Jose Lobaton and Tomas Nido.

Mets C Travis d'Arnaud will have Tommy John surgery next week to repair the torn UCL in his right elbow, it was announced Friday. The surgery will almost certainly end his season. Along with d'Arnaud, the Mets are without C Kevin Plawecki, who is expected to miss two-to-three weeks due to a hairline fracture to his left hand. 

To replace d'Arnaud and Plawecki on the roster, the Mets have called up Double-A Binghamton catcher Tomas Nido and Triple-A Las Vegas catcher Jose Lobaton. D'Arnaud was transferred to the 60-day DL to make room for Lobaton on the 40-man roster.

Michelle Ioannou, MetsBlog | Twitter | Well this just sucks. Is it possible for the Mets to go one season without a player needing Tommy John surgery? It doesn't feel like it is. Yes, the recovery from TJS is not as bad for a position player as it is for a pitcher, but still...

The Mets have spoken to the Marlins about trading for catcher J.T. Realmuto, reports Mike Puma of the NY Post. Realmuto, who has not yet played this season due to a back injury, requested a trade prior to the season amidst the Marlins' recent firesale. However, the Marlins are under no obligation to obey that demand. 

The 27-year-old Realmuto will earn $2.9 million this season, and is arbitration-eligible after this season and next -- before being eligible for free agency after the 2020 season.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | Realmuto would be a perfect fit for the Mets, regardless of how quickly Kevin Plawecki returns from his hand injury. And with the Marlins in a deep rebuild, the idea that the Mets could find enough minor league pieces to entice Miami isn't far-fetched...

Kevin Plawecki's left hand was described as red and swollen, but not broken, following Wednesday's win against the Marlins. But on Friday, it was revealed that the hand is indeed broken, though he is expected to miss only two-to-three weeks.

The Plawecki injury happened hours after the Mets announced Travis d'Arnaud had been diagnosed with a partially torn right UCL, which could require season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Tommy John surgery for a position player is not as devastating (in terms of time lost) as it is for a pitcher's throwing elbow. However, given the throw to second from behind the plate, the operation would certainly mean losing d'Arnaud for an extended period of time. So, what do the Mets do now? 

Mickey Callaway, new to the Mets and new to managing altogether, arrived to expectations that he would be less inclined towards following the "old-school" guidelines than his predecessor. He is living up to those expectations in a number of ways, most notably in regards to his lineup construction, which he has varied with each of the six games so far.

The most striking way in which he has rejected traditional managerial dogma is in batting the pitcher eighth. This was something Terry Collins dabbled with briefly, but Callaway made a splash early by debuting this construction in his first game, and seems to have a clear strategy for exactly when and how to utilize it.

Callaway has a very clear goal in batting the pitcher eighth and that is to use the young Amed Rosario to his greatest potential. Rosario has the speed of a classic leadoff hitter but his low on base percentage makes him a liability high in the order. Pushing him down to ninth ensures that he sees good pitches ahead of Brandon Nimmo or whoever else is in the leadoff spot and also gives the Mets' potent top of the lineup more opportunities to drive in runs when Rosario does get on...

The Mets wanna know, do you want to build a snowman? Monday night's game has been postponed due to snow, and four players took to the infield at Citi Field to make a snowman -- complete with a pepper shaker.

AJ Ramos, Kevin Plawecki, Travis d'Arnaud, and Phil Evans then posed with their masterpiece. Or should we say, Metsterpiece.

Click below to see...

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | Toward the end of our marathon pregame broadcast yesterday on SNY, the Baseball Night in New York crew batted around the question of "what would it take for the Mets to surprise this year?"

It's obvious that the team needs dominant starting pitching if it hopes to contend, so I suggested that a true key to their playoff hopes lies in a less obvious place -- the offense. If the Mets want to be relevant all summer, their lineup needs to be solid and competent, enough to help the excellent top half of the rotation, and high-ceiling bullpen.

The Mets won't be able to compete with the depth and quality of the position players suiting up for the Cubs, Nationals, or Dodgers but they can win plenty games in a weak division if their patchwork lineup delivers on its modest potential.