Predicting Mets' 2015 Starting Lineup Heading into the New Year

As we get closer to 2015, the New York Mets can now begin to predict what the Opening Day starting lineup may look like with just about every hitter at every position pretty much set to start there.

Recently, manager Terry Collins mentioned what he thought the lineup could look like in April.

Here is what the Mets lineup will probably look like on Opening Day.

1. CF Juan Lagares

Kathy Kmonicek/Associated Press

2014 Statistics: .281/.321/.382, 24 2B, 4 HR, 47 RBI, 20 BB, 46 R, 13 SB

The Mets do not exactly have a genuine leadoff hitter with a ton of speed, but Juan Lagares could turn into the most logical choice to bat first because of his developing bat and speed.

Lagares raised his batting average over 30 points last season in comparison to his rookie season in 2012. His run production was only slightly better, but he stole seven more bases. This shows that he could potentially be a useful leadoff hitter depending on how often he gets on base.

Lagares will need to learn to become more patient at the plate in order to draw more walks, but if he does that and keeps hitting well, he could be a leadoff-hitting fixture for the Mets.

2. LF Curtis Granderson

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

2014 Statistics: .227/.326/.388, 27 2B, 20 HR, 66 RBI, 79 BB, 73 R, 8 SB

Curtis Granderson spent most of the 2014 season batting first or fourth in the lineup, but it seems like Terry Collins wants him to hit second.

This could work for Granderson, as the No. 2 hitter is more likely to get better pitches to hit than the third or fourth hitter.

Granderson's 2014 season was very inconsistent, so hopefully, a change in the lineup order will help him hit more consistently.

3. 3B David Wright

Kathy Kmonicek/Associated Press

2014 Statistics: .269/.324/.374, 30 2B, 8 HR, 63 RBI, 42 BB, 54 R, 8 SB

2014 was one of the worst seasons, if not the worst season, in David Wright's career. Hopefully, he will bounce back next season and be healthier than he was this past season. Wright spent a good chunk of the 2014 season dealing with a bad left shoulder.

Wright, though, is the team's captain and has spent his whole career with the Mets. He is the leader of the clubhouse and should continue to bat third until further notice.

4. 1B Lucas Duda

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

2014 Statistics: .253/.349/.481, 27 2B, 30 HR, 92 RBI, 69 BB, 74 R, 3 SB

Lucas Duda clearly had the best season of any Mets hitter in 2014. He hit 30 home runs and drove in 92 RBI in what became a career season for the big first baseman.

Duda will go into the 2015 season as the clear choice to be the cleanup hitter and will hopefully continue the breakout success he had in 2014.

5. RF Michael Cuddyer

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

2014 Statistics: .332/.376/.579, 15 2B, 10 HR, 31 RBI, 14 BB, 32 R, 3 SB

Michael Cuddyer put up those numbers in just 190 at-bats in what was an injury-shortened season for him. The Mets, though, signed him to a two-year deal this offseason, and he should become their new right fielder.

Cuddyer gives the Mets another right-handed power bat, which they sorely needed. Through his career, Cuddyer has been a good hitter regarding both contact and power. He won the batting title in 2013 with the Colorado Rockies and has averaged 21 home runs per season. The Mets need all the power they can get in their lineup, and the addition of Cuddyer should certainly help the cause as long as he stays healthy.

6. 2B Daniel Murphy

Eric Risberg/Associated Press

2014 Statistics: .289/.332/.403, 37 2B, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 39 BB, 79 R, 13 SB

Daniel Murphy was the Mets' only All-Star in 2014, and it was long overdue. Murphy has been one of the National League's top hitters for the past four seasons. He has averaged 163 hits and 36 doubles over the past four years.

Murphy's run production was not as good in 2014 as it was in 2013, but he posted a slightly better OPS and should continue to be the Mets' second baseman for the foreseeable future.

Murphy may not be an ideal No. 6 hitter, but if Terry Collins seems intent on having Curtis Granderson bat second for a while, Murphy will likely stay as the sixth hitter in the lineup.

7. C Travis d'Arnaud

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

2014 Statistics: .242/.302/.416, 22 2B, 13 HR, 41 RBI, 32 BB, 48 R, 1 SB

Travis d'Arnaud's rookie season got off to a very slow start, but he hit a lot better in the second half to become arguably one of the top rookie hitters in the National League.

He clearly has not reached his full potential just yet, but d'Arnaud showed some power in the second half that could turn into 20-25 or more home runs per season in the future.

The seventh spot would be good right now for d'Arnaud as he goes into his second full season. If he hits more consistently and becomes a bigger run producer, he could easily move up to fifth or sixth in the lineup at some point.

8. SS Wilmer Flores

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

2014 Statistics: .251/.286/.378, 13 2B, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 12 BB, 28 R, 1 SB

It seems like unless a future trade is made, shortstop will be Wilmer Flores' job to lose in 2015. The young infielder played in just 78 games in 2014 and struggled at times, but he also hit a lot better near the end of the season.

Ruben Tejada simply has not hit well enough to continue being a starting shortstop, so it's now Flores' chance to really secure the job and develop into a good player. He has the potential, but he will need to show improvement in 2015 for sure.

All statistics shown are courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.