Rumors on major roster change for the 2025 season
The New York Mets came close to achieving a dream season in 2024. With low expectations initially, their unexpected run to the NLCS and a couple of wins make it difficult to be overly critical of the final outcome.
A significant factor in the team’s success was the midseason adjustments to the lineup. Manager Carlos Mendoza identified issues and made changes, eventually discovering the optimal combination. One of the key takeaways from the 2024 season is how effectively those adjustments worked.
The offseason should provide the Mets with more opportunities to enhance the roster with stronger players. Realistically, we can anticipate a few adjustments, including at least one key acquisition. Now, let’s envision your ideal Mets lineup for 2025.
Leading off in this dream lineup is shortstop Francisco Lindor. If anyone else is occupying the leadoff spot in your vision, you might have missed the mark. Lindor’s placement at the top of the order transformed the team’s trajectory. While other factors were at play, none had as significant an impact as moving him from the middle of the lineup to the leadoff position.
Lindor had plenty of experience hitting first during his time in Cleveland but had often been used as the number three hitter for the Mets. The shift was partly due to the players around him and his development into a balanced hitter with power. Although he didn’t exactly fit the mold of a typical leadoff hitter, the Mets had a player who had established himself as one of the top on-base hitters in baseball.
Lindor’s season was outstanding. He emerged as a transformative signing for a National League team and nearly clinched the MVP award. His performance will be remembered as one of the best in Mets history. The fact that he struggled early in the season before flourishing as soon as he was moved to the top of the lineup solidifies his place as the ideal choice to lead off in this dream scenario.
Batting second in the ideal Mets lineup is left fielder Juan Soto. Let’s dive right into the most exciting part of this dream scenario. Soto’s role in left field isn’t set in stone; he will also likely see time in right field and as the designated hitter. When putting together this Mets lineup, different defensive configurations were taken into account.
Regardless of whether he’s in left field, right field, or DH, your dream Mets lineup simply must include Soto. As a generational free agent, he will certainly test the Mets’ financial resources this offseason, and acquiring him would demonstrate their financial power.
For starters, it would showcase the strength of Steve Cohen’s financial backing. Soto’s contract is expected to only be surpassed by whatever Shohei Ohtani ultimately commands. It’s possible Soto could even fetch a higher price. Remarkably, he just turned 26 in late October, so he’s likely to secure a lengthy deal that covers the remainder of his twenties and much of his thirties. This contract could be complex, with potential player options, as Soto will need to account for inflation; a $ 600 million deal in 2035 won’t hold the same value as it does in 2025.
Batting second is logical for Soto because of his exceptional on-base skills—getting him as many plate appearances as possible is crucial. Knowing they’ll have to face him after Francisco Lindor should instill extra fear in opposing pitchers.
Batting third in the ideal Mets lineup is third baseman Mark Vientos. This spot in the batting order can spark some debate, but we’re choosing to trust a player who boasts a solid batting average, significant power, and is worthy of leading off in the first inning of every game. Vientos will take on the third position in both the batting order and at third base.
In reality, the Mets have a few options for Vientos. While he has been less reliable defensively, moving him to first base is one possibility, as is using him primarily as a designated hitter. Given his athleticism, they shouldn’t limit him to just being a hitter. His defensive skills have room for improvement, although there is a limit to how much better he can get—ideally, he shouldn’t be on the field during crucial moments in Mets victories.
Several players captured the hearts of Mets fans last season, and Vientos stands out as a homegrown prospect and an underdog who is easy to root for. He handled himself well after not making the Opening Day roster and, crucially, showed improvement as a player.
Having Juan Soto ahead of him in the lineup should provide Vientos with more chances to capitalize on disrespectful pitching decisions. For example, in the NLCS, the Los Angeles Dodgers intentionally walked Francisco Lindor to load the bases, which allowed Vientos to seize the opportunity and make them regret it.
Batting fourth in the ideal Mets lineup, center fielder Brandon Nimmo might just be the cleanup hitter they need. It’s essential to rethink how we approach starting lineups; it’s no longer just about placing the best on-base percentage player at the top or the top power hitter in the fourth spot. Modern lineup construction requires a deeper understanding than the simplistic methods of the past.
Nimmo being positioned as the number four hitter is more reasonable now than it once seemed. With his ability to hit for power and his strong performance with runners in scoring position during the 2024 season, he should certainly be considered for a spot in the middle of the lineup going forward. While his overall numbers may not have been eye-popping, his clutch performance stood out.
He wrapped up the regular season with a batting line of .224/.327/.399, marking the lowest on-base percentage of his career. However, he came close to matching his personal home run record, finishing just one shy of the previous year’s total of 24. He also drove in 90 runs, surpassing his 2023 total of 68 by 22 RBIs.
Nimmo excelled with runners in scoring position, boasting a slash line of .319/.424/.607 in those scenarios, in stark contrast to his .168/.269/.275 performance with the bases empty. This suggests that keeping him in the middle of the order would be a wise decision for the Mets.
He’s placed in center field in this ideal lineup primarily due to a lack of viable alternatives. While Tyrone Taylor will see his share of starts there, Nimmo is likely to be the regular choice for the position.
Batting sixth in an ideal Mets lineup, designated hitter Anthony Santander could bring a unique twist to the team. Every great dream has a surreal element to signal that it’s not reality, and while this may seem unconventional to some, adding free agent Santander would provide a refreshing dynamic to the offense.
The Mets should definitely consider bringing in at least one impactful bat. In this envisioned scenario, they acquire Juan Soto, re-sign Pete Alonso, and slot Santander into the sixth position in the batting order.
Santander had a stellar season with the Baltimore Orioles, hitting 44 home runs and driving in 102 runs, both of which set new career highs. He effectively traded his previous year’s 28 home runs and 41 doubles to emerge as one of the most powerful hitters in the game in 2024.
While his career slash line stands at .235/.307/.469, Santander brings valuable assets as a switch hitter who can play both corner outfield and first base. His performance in 2024 didn’t stray far from his career averages, showing a slight advantage against left-handed pitchers. This versatility makes him a solid candidate to share playing time with bench players or prospects vying for at-bats.
Batting seventh in the ideal Mets lineup, right fielder Starling Marte may not be everyone’s first choice for next season. It’s important to be realistic; even a film like Mulholland Drive had its grounded moments. Despite some strong performances this year, there are certainly worse options the Mets could consider for right field. While it’s true that his defensive skills have declined and he isn’t as fast as he once was, some fans might hope for a scenario where the Mets can unload him and the final year of his contract. However, in this vision, he remains with the 2025 Mets, starting in right field on Opening Day, with roster flexibility to replace him with Drew Gilbert if necessary.
Marte wrapped up the regular season with a .269/.327/.388 batting line and 16 stolen bases in 17 attempts. His power has been notably lacking for the second consecutive season, and he is unlikely to match his first-year performance with the Mets. As a role player at the start of the season, he fits well, providing a potential base-stealing threat toward the bottom of the lineup.
Although Marte won’t exclusively be the right fielder throughout this scenario, with the addition of Santander as another option, neither player excels defensively. For now, Marte gets the starting nod as the season begins, and the team can evaluate how to move forward from there.
Batting eighth in the ideal Mets lineup, catcher Francisco Alvarez had a mixed year both at the plate and defensively. If you’re feeling frustrated with this young catching talent, you’re not alone. At times, he displays the confidence of a seasoned veteran, while at other moments he seems uncertain, like an emergency catcher unsure whether to bat right or left-handed. Nevertheless, he is firmly positioned as the starting catcher for the Mets in 2025, and we’ll be including him in this dream scenario.
On the downside, Alvarez led the league in passed balls for the past two seasons, recording 11 in 2024 despite playing roughly 150 innings less than previous years. His wild pitch count also rose from 39 to 40.
However, there were positive signs of progress. By the end of the season, he succeeded in throwing out 18% of would-be base stealers, improving from earlier struggles. Offensively, he had his ups and downs but notably batted .412/.476/.471 in the NLCS, despite some fans wanting to see him benched due to earlier performance.
Positioning him eighth in this dream Mets lineup is a strategic move intended to create a second leadoff hitter.
Batting ninth in the ideal Mets lineup, second baseman Luisangel Acuña takes the spotlight. Sorry, Jeff McNeil; you’ve either been traded or moved to the bench. This dream isn’t meant to linger on what happened to you. Thank you for the memories—you were one of my favorites. Now, I’m looking forward to seeing someone new and exciting in Acuña.
In his 40 regular season plate appearances, Acuña posted an impressive slash line of .308/.325/.641 with 3 home runs, though he had just one stolen base attempt. While his power exceeds expectations, the missed opportunity to showcase his speed on the bases is a bit disappointing.
The Mets have plenty of options at second base for next year without needing to make any moves. Alongside Acuña, they could bring in a healthy Ronny Mauricio as well.
I’m excited about the prospect of Acuña’s quick feet in the ninth spot. The good news is that this doesn’t have to be a permanent arrangement. Just like dreams can change from one narrative to another, this scenario can evolve too.
In 2024, only one rookie made their debut for the Mets, and it was the young player acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Max Scherzer trade. The Mets tried to prevent this from happening, but circumstances pushed him to the majors, and in a high-pressure situation, Acuña seized his chance.