The Mets made history last Sunday by agreeing to the 15-year record-setting $765 million deal with outfielder Juan Soto. This is the largest contract in American sports history, one that would not have been possible unless Steve Cohen purchased the franchise in 2020.
Let’s explore the four different lineup scenarios and how Soto’s presence could elevate the Mets’ strong offense from last season.
Scenario 1: The Mets Stand Pat and Make No Further Moves
The Mets were only two wins away from bagging the National League win in 2024. To make up for this, they spent huge and got over the finish line for 2025.
The superstar Soto, was poached from the New York Yankees, marking the first major move in their lineup.
The team flaunts two MVP players in Francisco Lindor and Soto, but their goal is not to only accumulate the All-Stars. The main agenda lies in dethroning the Dodgers and winning the first World Series after almost 4 decades, which will require more than these two players.
The rest of the lineup should not be ignored, which will include the following.-
- Mark Vientos, 1B ®
- Brandon Nimmo, LF (L)
- Starling Marte, DH (R)
- Jeff McNeil, 2B (L)
- Jose Siri, CF (R)
- Francisco Alvarez, C (R)
- Brett Baty, 3B (L)
Pete Alonso, the first baseman, infielder Jose Iglesias, outfielder Jesse Winker, and Harrison Bader, and designated hitter JD Martinez, will be free agents, but punters are still waiting to see which ones are selected by the Mets to re-sign post-Soto.
Scenario 2: Mets Bring Back Pete Alonso for Added Depth
Pete Alonso’s return will certainly make the lineup deeper and give Carlos Mendoza far more flexibility for the lineup. Soto regularly batted second for the New York Yankees and has slotted into the position more frequently throughout his career of seven years.
Considering Francisco Lindor’s success, having at leadoff, it is unlikely that Manager Carlos Mendoza will move him from that perch. This puts more importance on Mark Vientos, the right hand hitter, powerful to bat third if he plays like last season.
This would make the right-handed column heavy with McNeil being the only person spacing things out. Given the best free-agent alternative, Christian Walker and Alonso, both being righties, such a situation can be unavoidable. This could be a possibility for the Mets skewing right-handed, especially with the above options on the market.
To evaluate the impact of the changing lineup on the Mets, fans and analysts can turn to the best MLB betting sites.
Scenario 3: Mets Add a Left-Handed DH for Balanced Power
One of the splashiest options here is Joc Pederson, although the return of Jesse Winker makes more sense. Whatever move that the team decides to make, it is going to be aggressive, pushing Starling Marte to a part-time position. However, this option would add both balance and thump to the current lineup on the Mets.
David Stearns, the President of baseball operations loves these “redundancies” on the roster, or having multiple options of lineups at the same positions that could easily play out.
Scenario 4: A Perfect Balance with a Right-Handed First Baseman and Left-Handed DH
The right-handed first like baseman, Alonso and the left-handed DH like Pederson, would add both balance and depth to the team’s offense, and create a powerful and versatile batting order. The Mets can also flip Vientos and Alonso based on who hits well. They might also flip McNeil and Pederson or Taylor and Alvarez. Against the lefties, the Mets have Marte still available for the DH position or give the outfielders a breather. Jose Siri will be the defensive-minded alternative off the bench, just like Harrison Bader last season.
Having multiple options at key positions will enhance the Mets’ flexibility for the 2025 season.
