Inside The Mets

Analyst Asserts Ideal Mets Lineup Around Juan Soto

The New York Mets have some appealing options when constructing a lineup around Juan Soto.

Grant Young

Oct 20, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates with his dugout after scoring a run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game six of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Oct 20, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates with his dugout after scoring a run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game six of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images / Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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The New York Mets secured one of baseball's biggest and brightest superstars when they signed Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million deal earlier this month.

However, no player — despite how fantastic they may be — is good enough to win a World Series by themselves. Soto will need a supporting cast around him to help bring the Mets its first championship since 1986.

While many vital pieces of these are already on New York's roster, there could also be more on the way. And even if not, the Mets' current pieces will need to gel into the lineup with each other.

During a December 28 appearance on Sirius XM's MLB Network Radio, analyst Jeff Joyce discussed what he believes to be the ideal lineup construction around Soto.

"I think I'd rather have [Alex] Bregman [and] Vientos at first if I'm the Mets, versus Alonso," Joyce said. "Now, look, Alonso is your guy, fans love him, Bregman was a part of those Astros teams, so there's that to deal with.

"There's more versatility with Bregman there in the lineup. He can give you some good at-bats. I mean, he could hit in front of Soto, he could hit behind Soto," Joyce continued. "Do you like Lindor-Soto-Bregman-Nimmo-Vientos, or do you like Lindor-Soto-Alonso-Nimmo-Vientos as your top 5?

"I like of like Bregman there. He's not going to hit for as much power [as Alonso], but he's going to give you better at-bats in big spots," Joyce added.

Hearing the Mets' potential lineup options if they signed Bregman or Alonso — which is a big 'if' — has got to get New York fans excited.

What's for sure is that either of those two proposed lineups look elite. It also looks pretty good without Bregman or Alonso.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, and Women’s Basketball for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco, where he also played Division 1 baseball for five years. He believes Mark Teixeira should have been a first ballot MLB Hall of Fame inductee.

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