A long shot not too long ago, he can grab the vacant spot in the rotation.
The New York Mets used every available method to bolster their roster during the offseason for a purpose. The team was constantly adding new players from the waiver wire. Numerous have already been assigned, and a few have even been traded. One who has progressed this far is suddenly a far more plausible candidate to be on the Opening Day roster.
There will now be competition for the number five spot in the rotation due to the injury to Kodai Senga. This season, the team had already intended to use a six-man rotation; even without Senga, they will likely continue to experiment with the depth of their starting pitching staff. These arms serve no purpose other than to wait around until it is too late.
Based on John Flynn’s ranking from yesterday, the Mets have three strong candidates vying for the position. Max Kranick, the fourth option, is directly behind them. The out-of-options starter, who the Mets waived off of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is now a more realistic contender for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
This spring, Max Kranick will have a genuine opportunity to “wow” the Mets and secure a spot on the Opening Day roster.
The final selection of the Mets Opening Day roster will be determined by a number of factors. They’ll have one built in right away because of a few early off days, which include the day after Opening Day, assuming the weather doesn’t postpone the first game of the season. This may force the team to start the season with just four starters and one extra reliever. If Tylor Megill, Jose Butto, or Joey Lucchesi is the clear favorite for the position, then that would be the smart move. They are unable to send Kranick down to the minors without first navigating waivers, so they are not as fortunate.
If everything else is equal, the Mets might wait to activate Kranick, just like the Pirates did this offseason, to assess how he performs in major league games. He has lost most of the last two years due to Tommy John surgery in 2022. With the minor league season postponed until 2020, Kranick hasn’t had much opportunity to pitch.
Three of those depth pieces are expected to start for the Mets in their first three Grapefruit League games, so the race for this rotation spot will get underway early.
Kranick now has the chance to participate in a competition that never was. They can ride any success he has at the major league level for as long as possible if they choose him over any of the optional pitchers. Given the same limitations he would face on the roster of any other ball club, Kranick might be someone who gets designated for assignment right now and pass through.
Performance should be the primary criterion for this competition. A fantastic script about the intrigue of a new face—one who was raised as a Mets fan—is currently being written. Before the shocking Senga news, Kranick was a long shot, but now he’s a serious contender.