If you’re trying to predict the New York Mets’ 2026 Opening Day roster right now, you might as well shake a Magic 8 Ball and hope it lands on “Signs point to yes.”
Because the Mets don’t feel finished.
Toronto Blue Jays v New York Mets | Al Bello/GettyImages
They feel close to finished — which is exactly what makes the next move so dangerous. One more addition could make this roster terrifying.
One wrong subtraction could turn it into a fragile experiment held together by vibes and spring training optimism.
Opening Day is less than two months away, and while most of the roster spots seem “mostly” clear, the Mets are still operating like a team with unfinished business.
David Stearns hasn’t exactly been subtle about how aggressively he wants to win — and that’s why this first Opening Day prediction comes with a twist that feels almost too bold to say out loud.
A lineup that looks like a dream… until you stare at it too long
The projected starting lineup is stacked on paper:
- Francisco Lindor at shortstop
- Juan Soto in right field
- Bo Bichette at third base
- Jorge Polanco at first base
- Brett Baty in left field
- Mark Vientos as the DH
- Marcus Semien at second base
- Francisco Alvarez behind the plate
- Luis Robert Jr. in center field
It’s the kind of lineup that makes fans screenshot it and start counting wins in February.
But there’s one detail that changes the entire tone: Brett Baty in left field.
That’s not just “creative roster building.” That’s a quiet message that the Mets might be done waiting for perfect positional fits.
They want the bats in the lineup. They want the talent on the field. And they’re willing to force uncomfortable decisions early rather than pretending the roster will magically balance itself.
Even the batting order carries an edge. Luis Robert Jr. hitting ninth isn’t disrespect — it’s strategy. A lineup that dangerous at the bottom becomes a trap. It turns the order over like a weapon.
The bench isn’t flashy — it’s survival
The bench projection feels less like luxury and more like insurance:
- Luis Torrens as the backup catcher
- Ronny Mauricio as an infield switch-hitter option
- Jared Young as a lefty utility bat
- Tyrone Taylor as a right-handed outfield piece
Carson Benge doesn’t make the roster here, which feels like the Mets quietly buying time — not panicking, not forcing the debut, just keeping a placeholder until the moment demands it.
And the moment will demand it. Because the Mets are building a roster where one slump or one injury instantly creates pressure. Not later in the year. Immediately.
The rotation prediction feels like confidence… and a trap
This is where the prediction gets controversial:
- Nolan McLean
- Freddy Peralta
- Clay Holmes
- Sean Manaea
- Kodai Senga
- Tobias Myers (as the injury replacement)
The most glaring omission is obvious: David Peterson is projected to be traded to the Padres.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth Mets fans don’t want to admit: a Peterson trade would make sense… until someone gets hurt. And someone always gets hurt.
That’s why Tobias Myers appears as the “temporary fix” — because even the boldest roster predictions still have to respect baseball’s oldest rule: the season starts with your rotation, and it ends with your depth.
Jonah Tong is also looming as the next man up, which only adds to the feeling that the Mets are betting on upside — and hoping the timeline doesn’t get too aggressive.
The bullpen is deep… but it already feels like it’s waiting for bad news
The bullpen projection looks strong:
- Devin Williams as the closer
- Luke Weaver in setup
- Brooks Raley as a lefty setup weapon
- Adrian Morejon as another left-handed option
- Luis Garcia as a middle reliever
- Huascar Brazoban as a multi-inning arm (option status unclear)
- Austin Warren as an optional piece
- Carl Edwards Jr. as the longman
A.J. Minter is expected to begin the year on the IL, and that’s the kind of early-season crack that forces a team to reveal how real its bullpen depth actually is.
Craig Kimbrel is the wild card here — a fascinating camp storyline, but not an automatic fit unless the roster gets shaken by injury or collapse.
And that’s the theme of this entire prediction.
This roster doesn’t feel like the Mets are simply “building a team.”
It feels like they’re building a response plan — for slumps, for injuries, for pressure, for the moment the season stops being theoretical and starts demanding answers.
So the real question isn’t whether this 1.0 prediction is correct.
It’s whether the Mets are truly done… or whether Stearns is still sitting on one more move that changes everything overnight. ⚡
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