PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Jay Bruce is at Mets spring training prepared to be the everyday right fielder. But so too is Michael Conforto, the outfielder whose bat was too hot to keep out of the lineup as a rookie but hit a sophomore slump in 2016.
Curtis Granderson will be 36 years old in a month and there’s questions about whether or not he can continue playing every day. Juan Lagares is behind him and infielder Jose Reyes is taking fly balls in spring training in case he’s needed in center field as well.
The Mets have a few too many quality outfielders.
Mets Spring Training Day 6
Manager Terry Collins doesn’t view it as an issue. He’s reassured by the depth. However, those competing for spots and hearing their names in trade rumors feel something more like pressure than reassurance.
“I refuse to be a distraction in the clubhouse,” Bruce said. “That’s definitely not going to happen. And the only thing that has happened is just rumors. Nothing has come to fruition and nothing has happened. I’m here, I’m happy to be here and I’ll be here until I’m not.”
Collins has said repeatedly that he prefers to award positions based on past in-season performances instead of spring training performances, a managing method passed on to him by late Dodgers manager Walter Alston. Bruce hit .254 with 13 RBI and six home runs in the month of September, appearing to shake off the slump he had been in since he was traded from Cincinnati, which could be enough to earn him that right field spot for now.
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Conforto has come into camp in impressive shape, ready to challenge both Bruce and Granderson, but it appears as though the Mets want Conforto to prove himself a little more.
“He’s going to have to find a way,” hitting coach Kevin Long said. “There’s obviously a lot of outfielders here and the best way to do that is to perform. Sometimes, for a young kid that can be an overwhelming task. I think what happened to him, he’s motivated by it and that’s a good sign.”
Reyes doesn’t appear to be stealing anyone’s outfield spot. The infielder won’t start working out in the outfield for a few weeks. He would only be used in the outfield in situational scenarios, most of which involve the need for left-handed hitting.
“You’ve got a plethora of guys out there,” Collins said. “If push comes to shove out there late in the game, if Juan is not in there, he’s going to be the centerfielder late in the game. I want Jose to be able to give us some versatility. If for some emergency, he’s got to go out there, at least he’s had a little time out there.”
Collins also expects Brandon Nimmo to compete for playing time at all three outfield spots as well. The only outfielder without a question mark is Yoenis Cespedes. Collins isn’t touching his star left fielder. But the competition for the other two spots appears to be heating up.
“I’m not surprised by anything at this point,” Bruce said. “I think that stuff kind of tends to work itself out. Having too many is way better than not having enough. I think that’s probably the approach that the front office is taking right now.”
Abbey Mastracco may be reached at amastracco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @abbeymastracco. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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