Projecting the Opening Day roster, 2/5

For the first time this offseason, let us present a roster projection that should actually closely resemble what the Mets deploy on Opening Day. The bullpen has undergone a major overhaul, and I’ve included Brandon Lyon below despite the fact that he has yet to sign an actual contract. That appears little more than a formality at this point.

Once a point of complete speculation, the bullpen, with Lyon and friends in tow, now seems relatively straightforward. Though 40-man roster limitations may prevent all of the veterans listed below from making the team, most of them should be there come April 1. And outside of the bullpen, there really are very few position battles in camp.

The only major change that could occur between now and Opening Day would be if the Mets sign free-agent outfielder Michael Bourn. But that remains a long-shot.

C : John Buck
1B: Ike Davis
2B: Daniel Murphy
SS: Ruben Tejada
3B: David Wright
OF: Lucas Duda
OF: Kirk Nieuwenhuis
OF: Mike Baxter
Bench: Collin Cowgill
Bench: Andrew Brown
Bench: Justin Turner
Bench: Brandon Hicks
Bench: Anthony Recker

SP: Johan Santana
SP: Jon Niese
SP: Matt Harvey
SP: Dillon Gee
SP: Shaun Marcum
RP: Frank Francisco
RP: Bobby Parnell
RP: Brandon Lyon
RP: Scott Atchison
RP: LaTroy Hawkins
RP: Pedro Feliciano
RP: Josh Edgin

In the running: C Landon Powell, 1B Josh Satin, INF Zach Lutz, INF Brian Bixler, INF/OF Jordany Valdespin, OF Matt den Dekker, RHP Greg Burke, RHP Jenrry Mejia, RHP Jeurys Familia, RHP Jeremy Hefner, RHP Collin McHugh, RHP Elvis Ramirez, RHP Carlos Torres, LHP Aaron Laffey, LHP Robert Carson, LHP Darin Gorski.

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