Are the Mets poised for a very bright future?

Right now, MLB.com is in the middle of posting their top ten prospects at each position. So far five positions have been reviewed: right-handed pitcher, left-handed pitcher, catcher, first base, and second base. The Mets have a prospect on each of those lists and might have one on each list. The only position that the Mets might not be on is third base– their top prospect is Jhoan Urena, who is still just in Brooklyn and was not as highly touted as someone like Dominic Smith. Not every prospect will turn into a star player, but if the Mets could get a few hits with their prospects then the team could be very dangerous for the next few years.

At catcher they have Kevin Plawecki slotted behind former top prospect Travis d’Arnaud. It is not likely that the Mets will keep both Plawecki and d’Arnaud on the roster with both playing catcher. Most likely one of them will get moved unless one of them has some injury concerns. Prior to the signing of Michael Cuddyer, the Mets going into 2015 could have used Plawecki at first base when facing a tough left-handed pitcher and given d’Arnaud some days off. With Cuddyer and Mayberry, it does not look like that will happen, and neither will the crazy idea of having one of the backstops run out into left field. Either player would be a nice bat off the bench, but they both have more value than that and their just simply is not room for both. If for some reason Duda regresses this year and the Mets front office is not happy with him anymore and Cuddyer is not moved to first base, then Plawecki could move there until Smith is on his way to New York. Smith will probably start the year in Savannah again or more likely St. Lucie, as he needs to get out of the left-handed deathtrap that is Grayson Stadium. Many have been concerned with his lack of power so far, but he is still only 19-years old and did not focus on power this past season. If Smith can keep his on-base percentage where it is and add the power then he could be a very dangerous player for the Mets.

Since Daniel Murphy has not been re-signed to a multi-year deal yet, it can be assumed that he will likely not be back at the start of 2016. Whether the Mets go with Wilmer Flores or top-ten second-base prospect Dilson Herrera is the question. Herrera is predicted to be an all-star in the near future, but Flores has been part of the Mets for a long time and many hope he pays off. In the right deal, either of them could be traded and the Mets are probably more likely to move Herrera if they can. Flores may end up at shortstop or the Mets will sign a player for a short contract until Amed Rosario is ready. The Mets seem to really like Rosario and want him to be the future shortstop in Queens. Alderson might be trying to avoid picking up a shortstop long term because of Rosario. If he plays well he could be a September call-up at the end of the 2016 season, or he may be called up during the 2017 season. Rounding out the infield is of course David Wright, who does not seem to going anywhere anytime soon, and the Mets do not have any third base prospects at the higher levels anyway.

They do have two players who, flanking Juan Lagares, would provide some nice defense and great production out of the lineup. Brandon Nimmo, who the Mets risked their first pick on back in 2011, will start this year in Triple-A Las Vegas. He will spend at least most of 2015 down there and will only really come up if there is an injury or he plays outstandingly well. The other outfielder in the wings for the Mets is 2014 first-round pick Michael Conforto. He was viewed as one of the best bats going into the draft. He proved that in 42 games for the Brooklyn Cyclones by hitting to the tune of a .331/.403/.851 slash line. If he continues to hit well, then he will make quick work of the Mets farm system and be ready around the same time as Amed Rosario.

The Mets young pitchers would need their own article to go fully in depth about them, but the earliest that Matt Harvey can go to free agency is 2019; Zack Wheeler can go at 2020, and Jacob deGrom in 2021. That does not even factor in Steven Matz or Noah Syndergaard. If we look ahead at 2017, the Mets starting lineup could be made up of Plawecki/d’Arnaud at catcher, Smith at first base, Herrera at second base, Wright at third base, Rosario at shortstop, and Conforto, Lagares, and Nimmo rounding out the outfield. By that time d’Arnaud or Plawecki, Herrera, and Lagares will have had a decent amount of time in the majors. Hopefully Wright can be at least a portion of what he was and lead the group of young kids. That many young players in a lineup could be either very good or very bad and most likely will not be the Mets lineup in 2017. Odds are Sandy Alderson will pull in someone who makes one or more of the prospects expendable. Any way you slice it, the Mets have the pieces to compete very soon or the pieces to trade for a big piece that sends them to the playoffs. This spark of young talent should give more people the incentive to go to games more often and increase sales more than they already did this past season. The increase in sales may lead to a larger payroll for Alderson to play with and lock up a lot of these players long-term and create a dynasty similar to that of the Braves during the 90s.