Other than Bartolo Colon, all the key pieces are returning from last year’s late-blooming Mets team that rallied to secure a National League wild-card berth after winning 87 games.
But the Mets also have three starting infielders — David Wright, Neil Walker and Lucas Duda — coming off significant injuries and questions about a rotation in which four starters are rebounding from surgery.
Retaining Yoenis Cespedes, on a four-year contract worth $110 million, was the team’s big offseason move. Now it’s Cespedes’ job to carry the Mets into the postseason for a third straight year.
Best position battle
If everyone is healthy, there is no real competition for a starting job in this camp, but in the bullpen Josh Edgin and Josh Smoker could fight for the second lefty’s spot.
Amed Rosario is the organization’s top prospect and could be in position to join the major league club at some point this season. The stud shortstop was an untouchable in trade talks this winter.
How will Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz perform coming off various physical ailments? And where do last year’s saviors, Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo, fit?
Terry Collins will have to find the right answers in the bullpen — likely for at least a month to start the season — with Jeurys Familia facing a probable suspension for his arrest on domestic violence charges.
What’s a newcomer? The Mets didn’t import one new major league player through trade or free agency during the offseason, instead opting to take another shot with last year’s unit.
Bartolo Colon was a rock in the rotation the past three seasons, but is now a division foe after signing with the Braves during the offseason.
Curtis Granderson, who will turn 36 next month, was solid in center field over the final two months last season, but handling the grind of the position over the course of a long summer could be a challenge.
David Wright is back again, after missing most of the past two seasons with significant injuries. The Mets’ captain still is managing spinal stenosis, and Collins will have to be judicious in his usage of Wright.
Given Collins’ affinity for veteran players, it wouldn’t be shocking if lefty Tom Gorzelanny cracked the 25-man roster to begin the season.
Catcher: Travis d’Arnaud, Rene Rivera, Kevin Plawecki
First base: Lucas Duda, Wilmer Flores
Second base: Neil Walker, Jose Reyes, Flores
Shortstop: Asdrubal Cabrera, Reyes, Flores
Third base: David Wright, Reyes, Flores
Left field: Yoenis Cespedes, Brandon Nimmo
Center field: Curtis Granderson, Juan Lagares
Right field: Jay Bruce, Michael Conforto
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