Amed Rosario had appeared to be the New York Mets shortstop of the future, but now he is a man without a position.
It is amazing what a difference a year can make. At this time last year, Amed Rosario appeared to be the New York Mets shortstop of the future, a power and speed threat that was starting to come into his own at the plate. While top prospect Andres Gimenez was waiting in the wings, Rosario had seemingly made shortstop his own.
That is no longer the case. Rosario struggled at the plate in 2020, shining a brighter light on his defensive struggles. Gimenez began to take over at the position, essentially pushing Rosario aside at the end of the year.
Not only does he have to deal with Gimenez in a battle for short, but the Mets may be exploring a major upgrade. The Indians are looking to trade Francisco Lindor, and are waiting for New York to get their front office in place before officially fielding offers. Rosario is currently a player without a position.
But that may actually work out to the Mets’ advantage. The team is considering using Rosario as a super utility player, although nothing has been said to the Mets shortstop or his representatives. This would not be the first time that a position change has been considered, as the team had considered moving him to center last season.
The Mets will certainly need depth next season. With Robinson Cano‘s suspension, Jeff McNeil is expected to be the primary second baseman. This would slide J.D. Davis and Domonic Smith into more prominent roles, but would weaken the Mets bench. If Gimenez ends up taking over at short, having Rosario learn other positions would make a major difference.
Such a move would also make Rosario more valuable for other teams. As the Mets are looking to upgrade their roster, trades will be forthcoming into the season. If he can adapt to a utility role, and show solid defense away from short, Rosario could be a valuable trade chip.
Amed Rosario is currently a man without a position. This could work out for both Rosario and the New York Mets going forward.