PORT ST. LUCIE — One week of the Grapefruit League season remains, leaving Mets officials to face roster decisions ahead of the March 28 opener.
Team officials had a good idea before camp began of the 26 players they plan to take north. But the X factor is always injuries, with spring training performance also not completely dismissed.
To this point, the only significant casualty has been Kodai Senga, who was diagnosed with a right shoulder strain last month and won’t begin the season with the club as he prepares to restart his spring training.
A look at the roster decisions still facing the Mets:
Third base/DH
It would be surprising if Brett Baty and Mark Vientos aren’t both on the roster to start the season, but president of baseball operations David Stearns seemed to leave the door ajar last week for charting a different course (mainly for Vientos) by saying as much as the Mets want to give their young players a chance this season it doesn’t necessarily have to be from Opening Day.
Baty will be the regular third baseman, with Vientos probably playing the position occasionally and receiving at-bats as the DH. The Mets also have Luke Voit in camp as a potential right-handed DH option, but the former Yankees first baseman hasn’t shown much offensively.
Starting rotation
Senga’s shutdown early in camp created a vacancy that left Tylor Megill, Jose Butto, Joey Lucchesi and Max Kranick as possibilities for the rotation to begin the season.
If this was a straight up spring training competition, the spot would probably belong to Butto, who has been among the Mets’ top performers in the Grapefruit League.
But Megill, the front-runner for the opening, has the most experience and impressed team officials with his offseason workouts that included developing a splitter. Megill, like Butto, was effective for the Mets after returning to the team following the trade deadline last season.
A scout who has watched both pitchers this spring noted that Megill appears to be taking the approach of a veteran who is working on his pitches to get ready for the season whereas Butto is already in midseason form, trying to win a job.
Lucchesi was optioned to Triple-A last week after falling behind the others and Kranick strained a hamstring during his first exhibition start, removing him from the mix.
Senga won’t return before May, so there could be opportunities for Butto — should Megill claim the rotation spot — to receive work on occasion as a sixth starter. Jose Quintana, Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser are the other components of the Mets’ starting rotation.
Bullpen
There are several names from which to choose for the two spots that are likely available.
The key factor on these decisions will likely be the pitchers without remaining minor league options. It’s a group that includes Michael Tonkin, Yohan Ramirez, Sean Reid-Foley and Phil Bickford. Each would have to clear waivers to remain with the Mets if they aren’t on the major league roster.
Tonkin, who was a solid contributor for the Braves last season, hasn’t allowed an earned run in his four appearances in the Grapefruit League. If there’s a reason for caution with the right-hander it’s his heavy workload from last year, when he pitched 80 innings, but early in the season it shouldn’t be a big factor. A scout noted that Tonkin was a “good pitcher for a good team” last season and that should carry significant weight in the Mets’ decision.
Ramirez told The Post over the weekend that his offseason sessions with Pedro and Ramon Martinez in the Dominican Republic have helped re-energize his career. The right-hander’s sinker has been tough, especially against right-handed hitters. In five appearances this spring he hasn’t allowed an earned run, with six strikeouts, no walks and two hit batters.
Reid-Foley, similar to Tonkin and Ramirez, is a reliever who could be extended beyond three outs. The right-hander was enjoying a strong spring until he was recently shut down from throwing because of arm fatigue, but manager Carlos Mendoza expressed optimism that Reid-Foley could return to game action by the weekend.
Bickford had a shaky outing at the start of the exhibition season and has looked better in his last three appearances. But the former Dodgers reliever appears to be an underdog in the competition.
Shintaro Fujinami arrived on a one-year contract worth $3.35 million, but has minor league options remaining. Fujinami has displayed his 98 mph heat this spring, but also struggled with control.
Edwin Diaz, Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley, Jake Diekman, Drew Smith and Jorge Lopez are locked into the bullpen on major league contracts.
Left-handed DH/bench
DJ Stewart’s bat has been quiet in spring training and Ji-man Choi is enjoying a solid Grapefruit League season.
But Stewart was also one of the Mets’ best offensive performers in the second half of last season, when he blasted 11 homers in only 157 at-bats. Working against the former first-round pick by the Orioles is the fact he can be optioned to the minors.
Choi can opt out from his contract on Monday if he isn’t placed on the major league roster. The veteran gives the Mets another option to play first base, although Vientos has also been taking reps in that spot in camp.
