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PORT ST. LUCIE – Without saying that the Mets have finished adding players for the season, interim general manager Zack Scott said on Monday that the team is almost there.
“I feel really good with the roster as it is right now,” Scott said after initial training for the full Mets squad. “I think we’re pretty well settled with the 40 men. We may have other types of off-list deals and other opportunities arise in the spring, but I feel very good in the group we have here at the moment.
It’s a group that includes starting pitcher Taijuan Walker, who signed a two-year contract with the club this weekend. Albert Almora Jr., Kevin Pillar and Jonathan Villar were other depth pieces that have arrived in recent weeks. The Mets’ big splash came earlier in the winter, with the additions of Francisco Lindor, Carlos Carrasco, James McCann and Trevor May, after Marcus Stroman returned on a qualifying offer.
Asked specifically about the bullpen, which only added May and Aaron Loup to major league deals (and lost a potential big chunk with Seth Lugo’s elbow surgery that will prevent the right-hander from throwing until minus April), Scott indicated he was satisfied.
“I like what we have right now,” Scott said. “I think there are guys who probably didn’t have the seasons they wanted last year, but I’m expecting good things from them this year. There are a lot of big guys here in this pen so I’m excited about the guys we have.
Scott also said the Mets were on third base.
“JD Davis is a really strong player for our organization,” said Scott. “We have a certain versatility with some of the other guys that we brought here so I feel really good.
Dominic Smith, Carlos Carrasco and two other players (whom manager Luis Rojas did not name) were absent from the first training session for reasons unrelated to injuries. Rojas said the players expected training to start by the end of the week.
Rojas, Scott and team president Sandy Alderson all spoke to the players on a pre-practice Zoom call.
“We have spoken about our talent and recognize that, but being aware that it will not only do it,” Rojas said. “We have to work hard to get to the point where we’re going to be that candidate. We’re going to be that team that comes out with a winning mentality.
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