In previous seasons, we’ve debuted our Mankees (Yets?) team at the outset of the Subway Series with no context or justification for the choices. It was kinda fun stirring discussion that way, but we’re trying a different approach this year by including a brief explanation with each choice.
These selections are intended to create the best team to win a game today -- meaning that upside and potential are far less important than how players are performing this season.
Okay. Without further ado, your 2025 Manks.
Starters
1B: Pete Alonso
A resurgent Paul Goldschmidt would outmatch many first basemen this season, but he has the misfortune here of competing against Alonso’s career year.
Defense is paramount at second base. Acuña is slumping now but offers athletic infield play and upside with the bat.
SS: Francisco Lindor
Anthony Volpe is solid, but this is no contest.
3B: Mark Vientos
Could easily go with the hot Brett Baty, but Vientos is just … a guy. And hey, the Mets have the entire infield this year.
C: Austin Wells
Francisco Alvarez still has star potential, but catching is a defense-first position and Wells is not only an elite framer, but has impressed the exacting Gerrit Cole with his game-calling. If Cole is singing your praises, you must be special. Plus, Wells is slugging .472 and controls the strike zone nicely during his at-bats.
RF: Aaron Judge
Best player on the planet, and maybe one of the best ever.
CF: Trent Grisham
Anyone who slugs and defends in center field the way Grisham has this year is not only a starter, but a star.
LF: Brandon Nimmo
Last year, I chose Alex Verdugo over Nimmo and justified it to Nimmo by saying that I view left field as a glove-first position. By that same logic, I’m choosing Nimmo here over Jasson Dominguez for the same reason that Aaron Boone benched Dominguez in favor of Verdugo during the postseason last year: defense. Dominguez is improving and could be a Mankee mainstay for years. Just not yet. Nimmo’s glove is far superior.
DH: Ben Rice
He is enjoying a breakout season that no Met DH can match.
Bench
C: Francisco Alvarez
OF/INF: Cody Bellinger
INF: Anthony Volpe
OF: Juan Soto
Soto is only on the bench when his competition for right field is superhuman. We chose Bellinger over Dominguez because of defensive versatility, including the ability to back up Alonso at first base.
Starting rotation
Max Fried
Kodai Senga
Clay Holmes
Carlos Rodon
Griffin Canning
Tylor Megill could be in there over Rodon and Canning. Tough call. I chose Rodon because of the quality of his stuff, but Megill has great stuff, too. Nice job by GM Brian Stearns assembling this outstanding group.
Bullpen
Luke Weaver
Edwin Diaz
Devin Williams
Reed Garrett
Huascar Brazoban
Max Kranick
Tim Hill
Fernando Cruz
Wow, we’re gonna win a lot of games with this group! Ryne Stanek could have made the team over Williams, but we’re going with the incredibly elite quality of Williams’ changeup.
