Mets could bench ‘all-world defender’ after adding electric infielder

Peter Chawaga

Mets could bench ‘all-world defender’ after adding electric infielder image

The New York Mets have enjoyed two straight wins against Major League Baseball’s worst team, the Colorado Rockies, but they could look to improve the roster as the season goes on.

After adding the likes of Juan Soto, Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas, as well as re-signing Sean Manaea and Pete Alonso, the Mets are firmly positioned to compete for the World Series this year. As a result, they will look to improve wherever they can.

Soon, that could include promoting top prospect Ronny Mauricio to the big-league roster.

“As the Mets have been in an offensive rut — they’ve mustered just 42 runs over their last 14 games, which is an average of exactly three runs per contest — a possible partial solution to their woes has been hitting lasers in Triple-A Syracuse,” Danny Abriano wrote for SNY. “Once Mauricio is deemed ready physically, though, the Mets will have a choice to make.”

Mauricio is a natural shortstop, though the Mets won’t be moving franchise superstar Francisco Lindor to make room for him. Alternatively, he could play at third base, though Mark Vientos and Brett Baty have been alternating there.

Instead, Abriano suggested the Mets could slot Mauricio in at the keystone and move veteran Jeff McNeil to center field at the expense of Tyrone Taylor.

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“Another alignment could have Vientos at DH, Baty at third base, Mauricio at second base, and McNeil in center field — a spot he’s started at six times this season,” he wrote. “The above would be easy enough, but would mean all-world defender Tyrone Taylor being on the bench.”

As the Mets continue their march toward the postseason, it could be a tough call to decide between Taylor’s defense and Mauricio’s potential offense. But if the team believes the youngster can help them win some more games, it’s a move they might make soon.

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Peter Chawaga

Peter Chawaga is a veteran journalist covering Major League Baseball for The Sporting News. His MLB reporting has included feature interviews with commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, salary analysis, player rankings and more. He has covered baseball for Forbes, Yardbarker, Pitcher List, Athlon and other outlets.

With over ten years of newsroom experience, he has previously covered finance, technology, arts, and culture for newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in English and journalism.