5 Mets storylines heading into spring training

It was at this time last year that the Mets, coming off one of the most spectacular playoff runs in team history, entered spring training as de facto victors: They won the coveted Juan Soto sweepstakes, re-signed Pete Alonso and went into 2025 with the swagger of a team with the money, talent and moxie to win it all.

Then the games began.

After a collapse that somehow was even grander than the previous season’s successes, president of baseball operations David Stearns took a hacksaw to the roster. This year’s team is vastly different from the one eliminated from playoff contention in Game 162 last season, both for good and bad.

On the one hand, Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil — all to the consternation of much of the fan base — are gone.

On the other, Stearns has created an intriguing monster in this Frankenstein roster, and it’s about time to see if the lab experiment can spark some life back into this franchise.

As we embark on spring training, here are the storylines to pay attention to:

1. WHERE’S THE CHEMISTRY?

Chemistry can be overblown . . . until you don’t have it. Last year’s team, either because of construction or circumstance, just didn’t click the way it needed to when things got rough. This season introduces a cast of new characters, and it’ll be interesting to see how the clubhouse comes together as it deals with new dynamics, new personalities and high expectations.

It’ll be up to manager Carlos Mendoza to steer the ship, but Francisco Lindor and Soto also have a heavy load to carry here. Teammates don’t have to be best friends, but they do have to pull in the same direction, and it’s certainly possible for the two to meld their strengths now that they’ve had a full season together.

Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette are known to be focused players with good reputations among their peers. Freddy Peralta brings a much-needed jolt of joviality to the proceedings. Now let’s see if it works.

2. IS PLAYING FIRST BASE HARD?

It’s extremely hard. So is playing third. But the Mets are taking the gamble anyway, experimenting with having Jorge Polanco and Mark Vientos taking over first and Bichette playing third. Polanco has played one major-league inning at first, Vientos has played only a handful of games there and Bichette hasn’t played third since he was in travel ball during his high school years.

At Bichette’s introductory news conference, Stearns noted that the Mets often will essentially be running out four shortstops in their infield — a schematic akin to “what if the entire plane was the black box?’’

It’s true that shortstops are your best fielders, but learning a new position on the fly is a challenge, especially when it comes to first base. Mendoza seems reasonably certain that Bichette can transfer his skills just fine, but Polanco may be more of a mystery.

That’s going to be key: Other than the pitcher and catcher, nobody handles more balls than the first baseman, and when the rest of the infield loses confidence in that position, throws get rushed and things get messy.

3. WHERE’S THE PITCHING?

Getting Peralta was a big boost, but the rest is more of a question mark. The Mets need to spend the next few weeks figuring out if Kodai Senga can contribute, whether Nolan McLean can continue to dominate and how they’re going to fix the issue that felled them last year: namely, starters who can’t go deep into games.

Beyond that, the bullpen is in flux. Losing Diaz hurt, but the back end doesn’t look bad with Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley and (eventually) A.J. Minter. The rest of the unit is a little more suspect, and it’ll be important to see if anyone else distinguishes himself as a viable high-leverage option.  

4. MENDOZA ON THE CLOCK

It’s never a good sign when a manager’s coaching staff gets gutted almost immediately after the season. Mendoza is in the final year of his contract, and a bad 2026 could very well end his tenure at the helm. He’s shown he can excel under pressure, and this year will be nothing but pressure. Can he function well with his new coaching staff? Can he keep the clubhouse steady? And can he answer accusations that his bullpen mismanagement not only cost the Mets the season but cost some of his pitchers their health?

5. OUT OF LEFTFIELD

The Mets’ up-the-middle defense undoubtedly is elite — bolstered by Luis Robert Jr. in center — but leftfield is going to be an ongoing puzzle. The Mets seemingly granted Brett Baty the “Jeff McNeil Memorial Super-Utility’’ role, and he’ll no doubt get some chances in the outfield. Tyrone Taylor is defensively superior, but his offense makes him more of a fourth outfield option. Then there’s prospect Carson Benge. Stearns has been bullish on him, and it’s clear that there’s a roster spot for him for the taking . . . if he can earn it.

By Laura Albanese

laura.albanese@newsday.com@AlbaneseLaura

Laura Albanese is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. She's been covering MLB since 2014 after starting at Newsday as an intern seven years earlier.