We suggested eight days ago that it could make sense for the Mets to carry both Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith on the Opening Day roster, and manager Mickey Callaway said Wednesday the team is considering just that.
And If the Mets do carry the right-handed hitting Alonso and left-handed hitting Smith, Callaway suggested it wouldn't be in a straight platoon.
"I wouldn't classify it as a platoon situation," Callaway said. "I think our main goal would be to put them in the best situation to succeed. ... keep them both healthy and in the game mentally."
Not having it be a straight platoon makes sense, since the Mets need Alonso's right-handed power more than whatever it is Smith would offer from the left side. And neither of them profiles as a platoon player, anyway.
"Both of them have shown that they can hit both righties and lefties," Callaway said.
With the Mets almost certain to be without Jed Lowrie and Todd Frazier to start the season -- and Jeff McNeil expected to shift from left field to third base in their absence -- it's conceivable that Smith could start in left field some days and at first base others.
While that could work in the short-term, it could create a tricky situation when Frazier and/or Lowrie returns. It can be argued that Smith has value as a bench piece who gets a start at first base every now and then to spell Alonso, while also being a backup outfielder. But that small amount of playing time could be a disservice to him, and that's something Callaway wants to avoid.
"I think that if it makes us have the best team (to carry both guys) and we think that we're not doing the player a disservice. ... we want to make sure that everybody that's on our roster is one of the best 25 guys."
Adding that the team has a lot of "tough decisions" to make, Callaway said the team has not yet reached a consensus on the fates of Alonso and Smith.
"I think we're still considering at this point. ... It's something that we're still walking through."