Stearns: Soto to Play Left Field This Year

David Stearns sat with the media to mark the start of spring training (pitchers and catchers report tomorrow) and recap the offseason. He stated the Mets have expectations to win and play at a high level and Stearns said he believes they will this year with the roster they have constructed.

Lindor’s Opening Day at Risk

Unfortunately, the spring got started on a sour note with some injury news to the team’s leader.Francisco Lindor will be evaluated tomorrow for a stress fracture in his left hamate bone. It is possible this will result in hamate surgery but they are optimistic he would still be available for opening day.

Lindor has had soreness there on and off for a couple of years but it has persisted to the point he felt he needed it evaluated further. The Mets’ medical team recommended he see a specialist, and he will see one on Tuesday. They have multiple players in camp who can play shortstop if needed.

Stearns stated that the Mets had nothing to do with Lindor not being able to play for the World Baseball Classic, and he does not know why his insurance was declined.

In other injury news, A.J. Minter will begin the season on the injured list and expected to return in early May. The Mets feel his recovery has gone very well.

Mets’ Outfield Plan

Juan Soto will play left field for the Mets in 2026. This emerged organically as Juan was training to play left field in the World Baseball Classic and developed a liking for the position again. He’d previously played left for the Padres and at the beginning of his Nationals career. David Stearns said it makes sense for their roster construction and felt from their offseason training he profiles well there. They project him to be an improved defender compared to 2025.

Carson Benge has spent a lot of time in right field and will have the opportunity to make the Opening Day roster. Benge making the team will depend on how his at bats and defense looks in comparison to other players. They will not focus on surface level stats. Stearns also stressed that Opening Day is only one day and rosters evolve throughout the season. Brett Baty, Tyrone Taylor, and MJ Melendez were also named as options for right field.

Ryan Clifford was described as someone who improved his defense in the outfield, is capable at both corners, and also improved his defense at first base. He has a great offensive season in 2025 and will begin the year in Triple-A.

Myers to be Stretched Into a Starter

Coming into the offseason the Mets looked to improve their pitching and defense. They added multiple gold glove caliber defenders up the middle and improved both their pitching depth and the front end of the rotation.

The Mets have six healthy starting pitchers at the moment and they will evaluate the need for a six man rotation as it gets closer to opening day and they see who completes spring training available. Throughout the season there are times they could go to a six man rotation and times they may not.

Tobias Myers has been told he will be stretched out in spring training and will be needed in a length role whether he is in the rotation or bullpen. He will spend the first half of spring training with a typical starters spring training and they will evaluate where their pitching is at for the second half of spring training.

The Mets have multiple pitching prospects invited to spring training and all of them can make an impact in the majors at some point in 2026.

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