#center-field

#center-field

According to team president David Stearns, rookie center fielder Carson Benge is legitimately in the mix for a spot on the 2026 roster. While the Mets navigate decisions around their veteran roster and long-term core, they are also clearly committed to creating opportunities for younger talent. SNY reported that Stearns emphasized that the club must remain cognizant of rising young players when shaping the major-league team, signaling a shift toward youth development as a key part of the organization's plan.

Lawlar's defense was a significant issue late this year. The Diamondbacks finally opened everyday playing time for him at third base with the Eugenio Suárez deadline deal. Lawlar was on the minor league injured list for a couple weeks but was recalled at the end of August. His third base audition didn't last long. Lawlar committed four errors in 76 innings, two apiece on September 7 and 14.

Grisham has gone from fourth outfielder to the top center fielder in the class within six months. He picked a great time for the best season of his career. Grisham connected on 34 home runs, doubling his previous season high. He pushed his already strong walk rate to a career-high 14.1% clip while cutting his strikeouts (23.6%) to the lowest mark in four years. The end result was a .235/.348/.464 slash line across 581 plate appearances.

Two clubs made aggressive attempts last week to land Luis Robert Jr., league sources said, but the Chicago White Sox wanted a better return of prospects.