New York Mets’ manager praises his team’s positional flexibility

New York Mets‘ manager Luis Rojas had his “state of the Mets” conference on Wednesday, this time via Zoom, and covered several topics, most notably his team versatility when it comes to positions and names.

It’s baffling that the Mets and all MLB teams still don’t know if there will be a designated hitter in 2021, but right now the club is preparing as if it won’t be available. Thankfully, all positions are covered.

Rojas doesn’t want a starting eight set in stone, but he did say, according to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, that Dominic Smith will play “more left field than he will first base,” and that J.D. Davis will spend the vast majority of his time at third base.

The Mets can also employ Brandon Nimmo and even Jeff McNeil (who will play primarily second base) at left, spelling Smith, and Jonathan Villar can play third and some second.

Kevin Pillar and, potentially, Albert Almora, will serve as defensive substitutions late in games at center field, with the potential of making some starts.

“There’s multiple guys that can play multiple positions,” Rojas said. “In a camp like this, you want to give everybody a chance in the positions that they can come in and play. … There’s different strategies to the depth that we have in camp right now.”

Other Mets’ news

Rojas also informed that rehabbing pitcher Noah Syndergaard threw a side session on Wednesday, as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. He is expected back around June.

“We’re still on schedule with him, and what we’ve said in the past,” Rojas said.

On another subject, The Athletic revealed in the last few hours that the New York Mets dismissed an employee because of past sexual harassment.

Former hitting coordinator Ryan Ellis was accused by three different women of inappropriate conduct.

“We’ve set new expectations,” Rojas said. “There’s also new avenues added to it to report cases like this. It’s been disappointing to see it from afar when you get reports of this news, and [it’s] upsetting. … Those misconducts, they’re just unacceptable. We should have a safe environment to work, a safe workplace, and everyone should feel safe around here.”