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.