LAS VEGAS -- Two days before they kick off the regular season with a World Series rematch in Kansas City, the New York Mets announced their Opening Day roster Friday. The notable decisions:
After debating whether he would be better served getting regular at-bats at Triple-A Las Vegas, the Mets opted to have catcher Kevin Plawecki serve as Travis d'Arnaud's backup at the major league level. That signals the Mets plan to give d'Arnaud at least a couple of days off a week in order to try to keep him healthy. Plawecki had held off securing a residence in New York because of the uncertainty. "I texted my wife to send out a couple of emails. Obviously I can get that going a little bit," Plawecki said about looking for a place to live in New York. "I'm just excited and ready to get the season going."
Former Milwaukee Brewers closer Jim Henderson will be in the majors for the first time since May 2014. He underwent his second shoulder surgery that August and only appeared in the minors last season. The Mets had considered waiting until the third game of the season to add Henderson in order to have an extra bench player in Kansas City. Team officials ultimately opted against it because they are unsure what they will get from Matt Harvey on Opening Day and because they had a pair of extra-inning games during the World Series against the Royals, which means Matt Reynolds is headed to Las Vegas from the get-go and is still waiting to appear in a major league game. Henderson beat out Erik Goeddel, who only returned last week from a right lat strain. Henderson said he was nervous his first few spring training appearances, but finally started letting loose about his sixth appearance. His fastball velocity has been sitting in the low 90s. "Coming into the offseason I didn't know whether I was going to be in independent ball or having any kind of contract," Henderson said. "But I knew I was going to play, and I knew I was just going to give it all I had for this next year. And I'm happy that it brought me to this point."
Logan Verrett beat out Sean Gilmartin for the spot starter/long relief role. The primary logic in having Verrett in the Triple-A rotation would have been to have a capable option stretched out in case a major league starter became injured. Instead, Verrett opens in the major league bullpen. Pitching coach Dan Warthen said Gilmartin will work in Las Vegas' rotation. Gilmartin had to stay at the major league level all of last season because he was a Rule 5 pick. Now, he is fully Mets property and has three years of options.
Here's the 25-man roster:
Lineup
1. Curtis Granderson, RF
2. David Wright, 3B
3. Yoenis Cespedes, RF
4. Lucas Duda, 1B
5. Neil Walker, 2B
6. Michael Conforto, LF
7. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
8. d'Arnaud, C
Bench
9. Plawecki, C
10. Wilmer Flores, IF
11. Eric Campbell, IF/OF
12. Juan Lagares, OF
13. Alejandro De Aza, OF
Rotation
14. Matt Harvey, RHP
15. Noah Syndergaard, RHP
16. Jacob deGrom, RHP
17. Bartolo Colon, RHP
18. Steven Matz, LHP
DL -- Zack Wheeler, RHP, expected return July 1
Bullpen
19. Jeurys Familia, closer
20. Addison Reed, RHP
21. Antonio Bastardo, LHP
22. Jerry Blevins, LHP
23. Hansel Robles, RHP
24. Henderson, RHP
25. Verrett, RHP
DL -- Josh Edgin, LHP, expected return May 1
The Mets will play with a 24-man roster in Kansas City because Robles must serve a two-game suspension for throwing in the direction of the head of the Philadelphia Phillies' Cameron Rupp on Sept. 30.