Despite reaching the NLCS last year, losing to the eventual World champion Dodgers, the Mets just can't shake the injury plague that has been in effect since Citi Field opened in 2009.
For example, infielder Nick Madrigal, acquired from the Cubs, was lost for the season due to a shoulder injury in an early preseason game. Not that Clover Field is Citi South, but the maladies have followed the team. Frankie Montas, signed as a free agent after finishing 2024 with Milwaukee, opens the season on the IL, as does Sean Manaea, who was so instrumental in the Mets' late surge to the postseason.
That doesn't mean the rotation starts as a weakness for the Mets, though. Kodai Senga is healthy, and that's bad news for opposing teams. For now, the rotation will also include Griffin Canning (Angels), Clay Holmes (Yankees-converting from reliever to starter), and any combination among David Peterson, Tylor Megill, Jose Butto, and Paul Blackburn.
Catcher Francisco Alvarez will also start the season on the IL, out up to two months due to a broken hand. Luis Torrens, who came over from the Yankees last year, will be the starter this year until Alvarez is ready to return. The Mets, though, boosted their outfield by acquiring Juan Soto (Yankees) and Jose Siri (Tampa Bay), and bringing back Jesse Winker, another late season acquisition last year. The team is slowly working Starling Marte back into the mix as he'll also be a DH. Brandon Nimmo is injured, which makes acquiring Siri that much more important. Soto was on the wrong end of the Subway Series last year, as the Mets swept the Yankees, but he's got a more imposing group surrounding him with Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos, and, when healthy, Alvarez & Nimmo. Scary.
To get to Edwin Diaz for the 9th inning, Carlos Mendoza now has AJ Minter (Atlanta), once he's healthy, to back up Max Kranick, Ryne Stanek, & Reed Garrett. Forget about Genesis Cabrera (Toronto), who had a bad outing on Sunday vs. Washington, and I don't see him sticking around. Speaking of the Nationals, they made a big mistake letting Joey Meneses go, as the Mets signed him to provide backup for Alonso.
We'll hold our prediction until we look at the rest of the NL East later this week.
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