In a flurry of roster moves over the past week, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has reshaped the roster in short order. After missing out on Kyle Tucker, the Mets quickly pivoted to free agent Bo Bichette, signing the shortstop-turned-third baseman to a three-year, $126 million deal. Just days later, New York addressed another major need by acquiring center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and further stabilized its pitching staff by adding ace Freddy Peralta. The club also brought in right-hander Tobias Myers to bolster the bullpen.
“They are all excited to join our organization, and everybody’s liking the way we’re heading here,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said on MLB Network Radio.
While those additions may be new to the Mets, Bichette’s relationship with Mendoza is anything but. The two share a prior connection from earlier in their careers, dating back to when Mendoza managed Bichette’s older brother, Dante Bichette Jr., in the Yankees’ minor league system.
Earlier this week, that familiarity resurfaced as Bichette and Mendoza were reunited in Florida..
“Watching him take ground balls at third base was very encouraging,” Mendoza said on “The Show” podcast on Monday. “He’s an athlete and we’re looking at a guy that has played shortstop his whole career. Just watching him today, moving around, taking ground balls, creating angles and the throws to first base I was telling him it looks like you’ve played here before. So he’s super excited.”
What About Jorge Polanco?
Like Bichette, Jorge Polanco is also making a transition to a new position: first base.
“I think the game reps are going to be huge here. It’s not so much about taking ground balls,” Mendoza said. “A ball to your right, how far is that second baseman, getting used to instead of breaking for the baseball, getting back to the base. Getting familiar with the pitching staff, catching relays and taking throws.”
As the Mets continue to sort through their defensive alignments, Mendoza acknowledged that some creativity may be required early on.
“It takes time, we’re going to have to get creative here. Try to put Polanco and [Brett] Baty and Mark Vientos and a lot of the guys in backfield action.”
Mendoza also shared a lineup concept he has been considering, highlighting the flexibility the roster now provides.
“I could see a [Francisco] Lindor, [Juan] Soto, Bo [Bichette] out of the gate. There’s a lot of versatility, a lot of flexibility. I like the fact that there’s some balance and I could put together a very balanced lineup. There’s righties, lefties, the switch hitting from Lindor and Polanco, it allows me to protect certain guys.”
(Top Image Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)