Looking at the Mets lineup right now, they are just giving away four free outs, and it has been an issue for a team that has now lost three straight series after their torrid start.  The question is how or if the Mets could improve theses respective areas.   For the most part is probably not.

The pitcher’s spot is going to be the pitcher’s spot.  Given his defense and how much the Mets have invested in him, the team is going to let Amed Rosario figure it out.  Unless you can swing a trade, the Mets are stuck with Jose Lobaton and Tomas Nido in near future.

That leaves Adrian Gonzalez, who is hitting .203/.300/.322 and is currently mired in a 1-16 slump.  He is holding the team back offensively at a time they need him to hit, and at a -1 DRS, he’s no longer a Gold Glover.  With his lack of production and the fact the Mets actually have internal options, it is time to cut bait and choose Option B, C, or D. Here are what those options are:

Option No. 1 – Bruce

Jay Bruce playing first base is seemingly the most obvious option, albeit one the Mets have seemed to be reluctant to pursue.  If they would finally pursue this route, it would take his -2 DRS out of right field, and it would create an avenue for Brandon Nimmo and his .500 OBP into the everyday lineup.

The downside of this is Bruce is not as strong a first baseman as Gonzalez.  It creates more opportunity for teams, who have already abused the Mets with safety squeezes, to have more bunt plays against the Mets.  Some of the other things like digging balls out of the dirt may become throwing errors.  Lastly, when he made the move to first last year, he hit just .189/.302/.378.  That could be the result of small sample sizes, or it could be the result of him not being comfortable.  Neither possibility should be discounted.

Option No. 2 – Flores

Even at first base, Wilmer Flores is not going to be a good enough defender to play everyday.  However, at this point in their respective careers, Flores is a better hitter than Gonzalez, and the defensive gap is not as great.

Since 2014, we have seen Flores’ batting average and slugging have improved as has his ability to hit right-handed pitching.  After a slow start this year when he did not receive regular playing time, over his last 13 games, Flores is hitting .281/.343/.531 with two doubles, two homers, and five RBI. In an ironic twist, Flores is actually hitting right-handed pitching well while struggling against left-handed pitching.

Seeing his production, Flores has merited more playing time, and of all the options, he may be the best possible stopgap option.  At a minimum putting him at first only serves to displace an under-performing Gonzalez while allowing the Mets to keep Bruce in his comfort zone.

Option No. 3 – Smith

Who knows what would have happened this season if Dominic Smith showed up on time for the first Spring Training game.  With him being in the best shape of his life and his coming off his best ever minor league season, he may have very well have won the first base job in Spring Training; his injury not withstanding.

Now, Smith is off to a slow start in Triple-A hitting .234/.372/.406, and he’s mired in a 4-26 slump.  For comparison’s sake, he hit .337/.382/.484 in April last year.

What we don’t know is whether this was the result of him dealing with an injury early in the season, the disappointment of starting the season in the minors, or something all together different.

Calling him up now and having him work with this coaching staff could rejuvenate him, and he could take off.  It’s also possible he crumbles under the pressure completely.  Whatever the case, you’re not getting anything from Gonzalez now, so would it really matter if you get nothing from Smith.  After all with Peter Alonso nipping at his heels, you need to find out about Smith eventually.

Option No. 4 – Cabrera

So far this season, Asdrubal Cabrera has been the team’s MVP, but that is only because of his bat.  Before his right hamstring started “barking,” he already had limited range at second base, and he had a -3 DRS.  All things considered, you may want to keep him in the lineup and on the team, but keeping him at second is not helping the team.

If he was willing, and after what we saw last year he might not be, a move to first may be beneficial for him.  No, Cabrera does not have experience at first base, but he is a smart player, and with some work on the side, he may quickly become adept at the position.  Most likely, he could pan out better than both Bruce and Flores would.

If you moved him to first, you could call-up Gavin Cecchini to play second.  Unlike Smith, he has certainly earned the opportunity.  Right now, Cecchini is in the midst of a six game hitting streak, and he is hitting .311/.373/.459 with nine doubles and five RBI.  Notably, for a player who has struggled defensively in the past, he has not made an error.

Even if you don’t want to give Cecchini a starting spot, at least not initially, he could come up and serve in a utility role.  Remember, if you release Gonzalez, someone is going to have to get called-up from the minors to take a roster spot.  You could argue that spot could go to Phillip Evans, or to Ty Kelly, who has been mashing the ball this year.

Option No. 5 – Conforto

As previously noted, there is a logjam in the outfield preventing the team from getting Nimmo into the lineup.  While the team won’t move Bruce, maybe they move Michael Conforto there, who many, Keith Hernandez included, believe would be a good first baseman.

While different players under somewhat different circumstances, the Dodgers did quite well last year replacing Gonzalez with Cody Bellinger.

The biggest issue with making that decision is Conforto is the only everyday outfielder with a positive DRS.  Taking him out of the outfield will make the defense at both first and the outfield worse.  The question there is if Nimmo’s bat leading off everyday with Juan Lagares being better off utilized as a defensive replacement would offset those issues.

Treading Water

Now, none of these options may not entice you.  That is typically the predicament you are in April when you are trying to replace an under-performing veteran and your top prospect in Triple-A is struggling.  As a result, you could justifiably keep Gonzalez and just spell him more frequently with Flores.

Buying this time could allow the Mets to wait for Smith to hit a hot streak thereby forcing the team to call him up.  It gives more time to T.J. Rivera, who was the first baseman for Puerto Rico in the most recent WBC, to heal.  It could give more time for Alonso to continue his development allowing the team to call him up similar to how they did with Michael Conforto.  It would also give the team more time to possibly swing a deal for a first baseman depending on who would be available.

In a complete and utter pipe dream, maybe you wait for David Wright to insert himself into the conversation.  The question really is whether that is more unrealistic than their current belief that Gonzalez can still do the job.  Whatever crazy ideas there are, the Mets need to be right in their decision because the fate of some of their prospects and the 2018 season hinge on this extremely important decision.