2026 Opening Day Roster Battles

[Gwreck]

DiComo reports that Mendoza stated today that Brazoban is confirmed for an opening day roster spot.

We’re now down to 3 spots still to be locked down, although Britton and Sammon have both suggested that Tauchman is very likely to make the team under any circumstance.

To be determined:

1. Starting RF: Benge or Tauchman

2. Last bench spot: Tauchman, if Benge makes the team.  If Benge doesn’t make the team, ??? [Melendez, Brujan, Young, someone else]

3. Last bullpen spot.  Kimbrel or a second lefty [Lovelady, Bryan Hudson]
 

Lineup: Alvarez, Polanco, Semien, Bichette, Lindor, Soto, Robert, [Right Field], Baty

Bench: Torrens, Vientos, Taylor, [Open Spot]

SP: Peralta, Holmes, Senga, McLean, Peterson, Manaea

RP: Williams, Weaver, Raley, Garcia, Myers, Brazoban, [Open Spot]
 

[metirish]

Does Tauchman making the team likely mean Benge doesn't make it? What are the considerations here besides performance?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I suspect that delaying Benge's free agency eligibility is a consideration, although the Mets wouldn't say that publicly.

[metsmarathon]

There’s gotta be a fix to that nonsense in the next cba. I don’t know what it exactly should look like, but teams should not be incentivized to field lesser rosters to start their seasons - and more particularly galling - delaying the future paydays of their future stars - by keeping kids in the minors for a few extra weeks. 
 

id rather see teams incentivized to bringing up the kids as early as reasonable - maybe to the point that having a kid play on opening day versus two or even three months (or more) into the season should make no difference to his service time.  Basically get rid of the notion of a super-two being a thing altogether.  Unless you really really want to hold a kid out until August. 

[Gwreck]

3 hours ago, metirish said:

Does Tauchman making the team likely mean Benge doesn't make it? What are the considerations here besides performance?

I think they’re independent.  Tauchman will either be the starter OR he will get a bench spot if Benge makes it.

[Gwreck]

1 hour ago, metsmarathon said:

There’s gotta be a fix to that nonsense in the next cba. I don’t know what it exactly should look like, but teams should not be incentivized to field lesser rosters to start their seasons - and more particularly galling - delaying the future paydays of their future stars - by keeping kids in the minors for a few extra weeks. 

I think you’re right that it has to be a service time thing.  Something along the lines of a first year player who gets XX days = rounded up to a full year of service time (rather than the 172 days typically needed).   Maybe that’s 75 or 100, so you’d have really have to hold the player out a long time to delay the FA clock.

[The Hot Corner]

If Tauchman does not make the MLB roster, I believe he can opt out of his contract and become become a free agent.  Keeping him definitely provides some insurance should Benge struggle at the MLB level.  Tauchman has been a pleasant surprise (at least to me) thus far and Benge has looked solid.  Benge is clearly the long-term answer, but the team could do worse than keeping both of them.