Projecting Mets' Final 25-Man Roster at the Start of Spring Training

Beside preparing for the regular season, one of the most important parts of spring training is determining what the Opening Day roster will look like.

Mets manager Terry Collins and his coaches will try to determine the best possible 25-man roster by the end of the month. Here is what the Opening Day roster should look like.

Catchers and Infield

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Catchers

- Travis d'Arnaud

- Anthony Recker

Infielders

- 1B Ike Davis

- 2B Daniel Murphy

- SS Ruben Tejada

- 3B David Wright

- 1B/3B Josh Satin

- IF Wilmer Flores

The catching situation should look very similar to what it was at the end of 2013, with Travis d'Arnaud as the starter and Anthony Recker as his backup. In the infield, Ike Davis should be able to keep his job starting at first base over Lucas Duda. Assuming Duda does not get the starting job, the chance of him starting the season in the minor leagues could be very good.

Daniel Murphy and David Wright are pretty much guaranteed second base and third base, respectively. Shortstop is the only other position that could be up for grabs. Ruben Tejada was originally viewed as the starter. But the emergence of Wilmer Flores, who is currently competing at shortstop, via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, could make the position one of the most fascinating to follow throughout spring training.

Flores has primarily played third base the past few years, but in order to get a lot of major league playing time, he will need to play another position. The possible opening at shortstop could be just what Flores needs.

Outfielders

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

- Curtis Granderson

- Juan Lagares

- Chris Young

- Eric Young Jr.

- Matt den Dekker

For now, Granderson looks to be the only definite starting player in the outfield. Lagares, Chris Young and Eric Young Jr. would then compete for the other two starting jobs. If den Dekker makes the major league roster, he would almost certainly be a defensive replacement and fifth outfielder.

Andrew Brown is another backup possibility as well.

Starting Rotation

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

- Jon Niese

- Zack Wheeler

- Dillon Gee

- Bartolo Colon

- Jenrry Mejia

Niese, Wheeler, Gee and Colon all have their spots basically locked up for Opening Day. The fifth starting pitcher slot is the only spring training battle for this group. Beside Mejia, Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lannan should be in competition to complete the rotation.

Bullpen

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

- Bobby Parnell

- Kyle Farnsworth

- Jose Valverde

- Vic Black

- Jeurys Familia

- Josh Edgin

- Scott Rice

Bobby Parnell will be the Mets' closer this season once again. According to Adam Rubin of ESPN.com, Terry Collins recently stated that Parnell will not lose his closing job to veterans like Kyle Farnsworth or Jose Valverde.

The two aforementioned veterans should be able to make the team and could be great setup men for Parnell. Josh Edgin and Scott Rice were the Mets' left-handed specialists in 2013 and should fill the same roles this season. Vic Black and Jeurys Familia would round out the bullpen and give the Mets a few more young relievers.

Gonzalez Germen, among others, could be on the outside looking in. But over the course of a full major league season, roster changes happen, so Germen should eventually find a good amount of major league playing time.