New York Mets DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (oblique) is starting his minor-league rehab assignment on Friday at Single-A St. Lucie and is batting leadoff. Catcher Francisco Alvarez (hand), who started his rehab assignment on Wednesday with St. Lucie, is batting in the two-hole. Barring setbacks, both McNeil and Alvarez could come off the injured list to make their season debuts at some point next week for the Mets. The 33-year-old McNeil has been out of action since suffering a strained right oblique in spring training, but when healthy, he figures to be New York's primary starter at the keystone. In his absence, the Mets have been using a platoon with Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuna. McNeil, a former batting champion in 2022, hit a career-worst .238 last year and never had much power to begin with, giving him a low floor and ceiling in fantasy if he's unable to rebound.

New York Yankees right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino elected free agency on Thursday instead of accepting an outright minor-league assignment. Ottavino has now been designated for assignment twice by the Yankees and has refused an outright assignment to the minors both times after clearing waivers. There's a chance the 39-year-old veteran will return to the Yankees if he doesn't generate much interest on the open market. He's made three appearances out of the bullpen for the Yankees this year and has thrown 1 2/3 scoreless innings with four walks and three strikeouts. Last year with the New York Mets, Ottavino had a 4.34 ERA (3.67 FIP), a 1.29 WHIP, one save, 70 strikeouts and 23 walks in 56 relief innings.

Free-agent veteran designated hitter J.D. Martinez is hitting and staying ready while waiting or an opportunity to sign with a major-league team, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. It was reported in early March that Martinez was in contact with the New York Yankees with DH Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) injured, but the two sides were never really close to a deal. MLB teams probably want the 37-year-old Martinez to play for the veteran minimum after he declined offensively with the New York Mets in 2024, hitting .235/.320/.406 with a .725 OPS, 16 home runs and 69 RBI in 120 regular-season games. Martinez is a six-time All-Star, though, and clubbed 33 homers and drove in over 100 runs with the Los Angeles Dodgers as recently as 2023, so it seems likely he'll be given a shot eventually in 2025.

New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (oblique) is taking batting practice on the field on Tuesday at Citi Field before the game against the Miami Marlins for the first time since his injury, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. The Athletic's Will Sammon is reporting that McNeil is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie later this week. Barring a setback as the former batting champion ramps up, he could be able to make his 2025 debut before the end of April. When he's activated from the 10-day injured list, McNeil is expected to reclaim his role as the team's starting second baseman, which will push both Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuna into bench roles. With McNeil starting the year on the IL, Baty and Acuna have been involved in a platoon in New York at the keystone.

New York Mets outfielder Tyrone Taylor is starting in center field again and will bat seventh on Tuesday against the division-rival Miami Marlins and right-hander Connor Gillispie at Citi Field. It's Taylor's second straight start for the Mets in center field after he went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Monday's victory over the Fish. If the 31-year-old continues to hit well, he could easily take over the starting duties in center field after Jose Siri has started his first year in New York with just one hit in 17 at-bats with an RBI, four runs scored, two steals, three walks and five strikeouts in his first seven games. Taylor has gone 4-for-18 with an RBI, no walks and four strikeouts in five games played. The center-field situation in New York is still in flux in the early portion of the season. Taylor won't be a very attractive DFS play on Tuesday and is hitless in just two career at-bats against Gillispie.