An earlier version of this story was originally published on Feb. 2
With less than a month to go until Opening Day, there has been no agreement between the league and players on the implementation of the universal DH for the 2021 season.
And according to a report on Wednesday from The Athletic, while talks about the DH for this season could resume, it is viewed as a “dead issue” at the moment.
If the Mets do not have the DH at their disposal this season, it will present a number of problems, including…
A Dominic Smith conundrum
The plan for Pete Alonso and Dom Smith if there is a DH is pretty clear. One player would be at first base with the other at DH.
It would probably make the most sense for Smith to be at first base with Alonso serving as DH, though the Mets operated the other way around most of the time in 2020.
Without a DH, a serious problem emerges — and it’s one that would reverberate all over the diamond.
The Mets cannot sit either Alonso or Smith, which means Alonso (who can only play first base) would be at first, while Smith (who can only play first base or left field) would be in left.
Mets manager Luis Rojas said earlier this week that Smith would get most of his spring training reps in left field, which came as no surprise.
The above would mean the Mets using a well below average defender in left, which is less than ideal. And if Smith is in left…
Brandon Nimmo is in center field
One of the Mets’ biggest needs entering the offseason was adding a starting center fielder who can handle the position defensively. And they had talks with Jackie Bradley Jr.
But without the DH at their disposal (at least as of now) and with nowhere to play Smith if they added a starting center fielder, Bradley agreed to a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.
Before Bradley wound up with the Brewers, the Mets added Kevin Pillar and Albert Almora Jr. as center field options.
Almora is the better defender and Pillar the better overall player. But both will be on the bench most days unless the NL adds the DH. If the DH is added, Nimmo can slide to left with Pillar likely slotting in as the center fielder.
So for now, it will be Smith, Brandon Nimmo, and Michael Conforto in the outfield from left to right. And Nimmo is already working to improve what went wrong for him in center in 2020.
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As difficult as it would be to navigate the 2021 season without the DH, the Mets would be in even worse shape heading into 2022 if the DH isn’t added as part of the new CBA that expires after this season.
With Nimmo set for free agency after the 2022 season, would the Mets look to trade him to open a spot in the outfield for Smith while adding a true starting center fielder?
And would the Mets think at that point about going forward with Smith or Alonso at first base and become open to trading the other?
It should also be noted that Robinson Cano will be coming off his one-year suspension in 2022, but the Mets should be treating him as a sunk cost and not factoring him into their on-field plans in any way.
As was the case in 2020, when the MLBPA and the league agreed to the expanded playoffs on the eve of the season, a compromise could still be reached that allows for the universal DH in 2021.
If the above happens, the Mets will be in great shape.
If it doesn’t, they will be at a disadvantage defensively.