With Soto shifting left and Robert Jr. in center, contenders vie for right field. Baty emerges as a strong candidate in this crucial spring battle.
The New York Mets were involved in several of the offseason's biggest transactions, but there is still much to prove this spring. With camp getting underway, the Mets have a question to answer in their outfield that needs to be solidified before the regular season begins.
Superstar Juan Soto was the right fielder for New York in 2025 after signing a $765 million contract ahead of the season, but he will be making the move to left field for 2026. With their new trade acquisition, Luis Robert Jr., set to hold down center field, the right field spot is still up in the air.
It’s why right field was named the biggest positional battle to watch for the Mets in a recent Bleacher Report article. Several players could cement themselves as the everyday right fielder, but we’ll need to see how spring training plays out for the club.
Tyrone Taylor played 111 games in the Mets’ outfield last season, but nearly all of them came in center field, where his abilities are much-better suited. Now that Robert Jr. is the club’s center fielder, Taylor’s role has come into question. He comes to mind as a potential player to fill the hole in right, but his skill set isn’t exactly best suited for the position. He’ll likely be an outfield depth piece instead of being an everyday player.
The Mets signed MJ Melendez to a one-year deal, but he doesn’t exactly instill great optimism for his chances at being an everyday outfielder. Looking at how he fared in the majors last season, Melendez and his -10 OPS+ have a lot to prove this spring if he wants an everyday role on a postseason-hopeful Mets team.
One of New York’s top prospects, Carson Benge, has been great as an outfielder in the minor leagues, and a major league debut in the near future seems inevitable. He did, however, struggle in Triple-A last season, recording just a .583 OPS in 24 games. Barring a huge spring from the 23-year-old, the Mets would likely feel most comfortable having Benge start the year in the minors.
The last option the Mets have, and the predicted winner for the everyday right field spot, is Brett Baty. Though Baty has played just one game in the outfield compared to hundreds in the infield, he may be the safest option for New York. He solidified himself as an above-average bat last year, and even without great arm strength, Baty could find himself playing in right field in 2026. With his sudden status as being surplus to the Mets’ infield, Baty will surely do whatever it takes this spring to earn an everyday role.