JUPITER, Fla. — The Mets’ Opening Day roster likely won’t be settled until the team arrives in New York, but two veterans have been eliminated from the mix.
Mike Tauchman, who was competing for an outfield job, will undergo surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. In addition, reliever Craig Kimbrel has been told he won’t be on the Opening Day roster.
Tauchman departed Sunday’s exhibition game with left knee discomfort, and an MRI exam revealed the meniscus tear. Mendoza did not have a timeline for Tauchman’s potential return. Tauchman, 35, arrived to the team on a minor league deal and was a candidate to stick in either a starting or backup role.
But even with Tauchman removed from consideration, Mendoza declined to say if top position prospect Carson Benge has won a spot. Benge, 23, has thrived this spring and appears to have a foothold on the right field job.
Kimbrel, 37, will remain with the organization after deciding against exercising the opt out from his minor league deal. Mendoza said lefties Bryan Hudson and Richard Lovelady are the remaining players in camp competing for the final bullpen spot.
Mendoza indicated that three players — Benge, Jared Young and Vidal Brujan — are essentially competing for two roster spots. Brujan would provide additional infield depth, but the Mets also have Brett Baty as a reserve.
Brujan offers coverage at shortstop, but team officials could also decide Bo Bichette offers enough insurance at the position. Bichette, the starting third baseman, played a game at shortstop in recent days just to reacquaint with his old position.
