New York Mets 2016 Fantasy Outlook

Mar 18, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets second baseman Neil Walker (20) at bat against the Washington Nationals during a spring training game at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Mets 2016 Fantasy Outlook

The Mets had a truly magical run last year that took them all the way to the World Series. They re-signed the guy who made the difference, Yoenis Cespedes, in the hopes that he can replicate his insane second half last year into a full season in Flushing. Oh, and in hopes of making another run to the World Series.

New York Mets 2016 Projected Starting Lineup:

C: Travis d’Arnaud (.245, 12HR, 41RBI in 239 AB)
1B: Lucas Duda (.244, 27HR, 73RBI)
2B: Neil Walker (.267, 16HR, 71RBI with PIT)
SS: Asdrubal Cabrera (.265, 15HR, 58RBI with TB)
3B: David Wright (.289, 5HR, 17RBI in 152 AB)
LF: Michael Conforto (.270, 9HR, 26RBI in 174 AB)
CF: Yoenis Cespedes (.291, 35HR, 105RBI with DET/NYM)
RF: Curtis Granderson (.259, 26HR, 70RBI)

d’Arnaud is being drafted as a top ten catcher on potential alone. He did hit 12 home runs in just 239 at bats. Over a full season, that puts him right around 25 home runs. He essentially is a cheaper version of Brian McCann. I would take him over McCann, but most owners aren’t. He has consistently fallen past his projected draft slot. If he does in your draft, snag him.

Duda is morphing into Adam Dunn. He doesn’t quite have the majestic power, and the average is about 25 points higher, but that makes him a little harder to trust in standard leagues. First base is deep. Take Duda late if you need power and can take the hit to your average. CitiField is perfect for his power. 30 homers is almost a given.

The Mets shored up their middle infield. In doing so, it left Wilmer Flores, who became a Mets hero after nearly being traded, without a home. That said, Walker will fit well in this lineup, and is definitely worth a pick in the middle rounds of your draft.

Cabrera might be worth a shot in the later rounds of standard drafts. He had a couple of really good years in Cleveland. The change of scenery may help him. Or it may put Flores back in the lineup. There likely wont be any in-between.

Wright can still hit for average, but the injuries have taken their toll. I wouldn’t take him in a standard league, and in league of 12 or more, I would only take him near the end. Wright has not played more than 135 games since 2012, and has only topped that mark twice since 2009. Let someone else deal with the headache.

Conforto showed good plate presence last year, and he is a potential breakout candidate. Over a full season, he projects to around 25 home runs and 80 RBI. That puts him comfortably in a standard league outfield, and he can be had in the later rounds.

Cespedes crushed 17 of his home runs in just 57 games with the Mets. If he can do that over a full season, that’s 50 home runs. I would temper my 50 expectations, but I would not be a bit surprised if he hit 40. To me, he is a great value pick this year, and I have him targeted in all of my drafts.

Granderson’s speed is mostly gone, but his power is still there. If he can hit .260, that isn’t much of a burden on your average, and makes him a good option for your standard league outfield in the middle rounds.

Next: How Will The Rotation Shape Up?

Mar 8, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Mets 2016 Projected Pitching Rotation:

Matt Harvey (13-8, 2.71 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 188K)
Jacob deGrom (14-8, 2.54 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 205K)
Noah Syndergaard (9-7, 3.24 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 166K in 150 IP)
Steven Matz (4-0, 2.27 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 34K in 35.2 IP)
Zack Wheeler (11-11, 3.54 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 187K in 185.1 IP in 2014)
Bartolo Colon (14-13, 4.16 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 136K)
Jeurys Familia (2-2, 1.85 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 86K in 78 IP, 43/48 saves)

The Mets tried to limit Harvey last year, they really did, but with every dominating start, he proved that they needed him out there. The innings cap should be off this year, and Harvey is a fantasy ace. I am comfortable passing on pitchers in the first three rounds to take Harvey as my ace in the fourth or fifth.

deGrom’s numbers were actually better than Harvey’s last year, and I’m sure they will rival them again. deGrom has been going in the same area as Harvey. If I miss one, I wont miss the other. I want at least one of the two on my team, especially with the revamped offense behind them.

Syndergaard is almost a little lost with all of the wealth of pitching that the Mets have. Truth be told, he is a good number two pitcher in your fantasy rotation. He wont put up the numbers of Harvey or deGrom, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he won 15 games, flirted with 200 strikeouts, and posted an ERA right around 3. I will take that from my number two!

Matz was brilliant in his first taste of the bigs, and I’m not sure why he is going as low as he is in drafts. He is a great bargain right now. I see his numbers being somewhere around where Syndergaard’s were last year. That is well worth the tenth round pick you can use on him.

Wheeler is a great stash project considering he likely wont be back until July. How he fares upon his return is anyone’s guess, but he should still be on the radar in keeper and dynasty leagues. His 2014 was no fluke. He can put up numbers close to that likely this year, and maybe even better going forward.

Colon is an innings-eater until Wheeler returns. The 42-year-old ageless wonder keeps plugging away, and putting up numbers worthy of using him in deeper leagues. He may even be worth spot starts in more shallow leagues.

Familia became the lock-down closer that the Mets desperately needed last year. He will have plenty of save opportunities again this year, and has shown the ability to rack up strikeouts. I have him as one of the top options in the second closer tier.

Next: What Prospects Are Worth Watching?

We will take a look at a few prospects that could crack the majors for the Mets this year, and in what type of leagues you should be looking for them in. The Mets got most of their prospects up. Do they have any left? Let’s get started!

Oct. 14, 2014; Mesa, AZ, USA; New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (27) plays for the Scottsdale Scorpions against the Mesa Solar Sox during an Arizona Fall League game at Cubs Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Gavin Cecchini, SS: The Mets have a logjam in the middle infield with the the arrival of Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera. That will put Cecchini’s callup on hold unless significant injuries happen. Let’s not forget that Wilmer Flores is still the backup utility infielder. He was the starting shortstop last year. Cecchini could be worth a look in deep leagues since he hit .317 last year at AA.

Brandon Nimmo, OF: The Mets are pretty deep in the outfield as well. There is a chance that Nimmo could come up as a fourth outfielder this year, but it is doubtful that he has much of a fantasy impact unless injuries hit. He is slightly above average across the board, so he will be better left for deep leagues anyway.

Gabriel Ynoa, RHP: It would take a disaster for Ynoa to crack the Mets rotation this year. Either that or a breakdown of 42 year old Bartolo Colon. Still, it looks like Ynoa will start the year at AA Binghamton, so even if there is an opening, he might not fill it. Ynoa will likely be a trade piece sometime in July.

Next: MLB FanDuel Picks For Opening Day

Stay tuned for the rundown of every MLB team before Opening Day, our daily FanDuel picks, and the round by round picks for the NCAA Tournament!

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