Most people will welcome Carson Benge’s win and his spot on the New York Mets’ opening roster as long as he performs well in the spring. That’s usually the deciding factor for newcomers. If he lights up in March, he’ll find his way to the big league roster.

However, there is a slight problem. Benji is currently competing in the open field with the Mets’ other outfield prospects. We know that Juan Soto is guaranteed to earn a spot. Left field is still a big vacancy, Benji is a theoretical fit there, and center field is better than Tyrone Taylor. Taylor will be on the Mets’ roster regardless, but if the prospect becomes a star for St. Lucie in less than two months, he’ll just be sidelined in favor of Benji.

You have to question the Mets. If Benji doesn’t make the team, what will be his replacement?

Mets need a backup plan up front that won’t completely block Carson Benge

This is where things get complicated. Let’s say the Mets added a left fielder and center fielder this offseason. I’m happy with where they stand. They checked off two major boxes heading into the offseason. Both options are legitimate MLB starters in a sense. Adding them leaves no room for Benji to actually play significant minutes.

If the Mets really value Benji as highly as they seem, they may not be able to afford to bring in any kind of major outfield duo. With the addition of left field and center field, there is no way for Benji to become a regular, unless one of the outfielders utilizes the DH slot more regularly. The Mets tried to get Kyle Tucker on the fence, but to no avail. Where they go next is a mystery.

The best bet for now is to leave one of these positions weak at the beginning of the year. This could include placing a lot of Taylor in the center field at the beginning of the year (easy), or adding a smaller player in the left field, while potentially placing players like Luis Robert Jr. or Byron Buxton in the center field if acquired from the Minnesota Twins. Someone like Austin Hayes could easily be sidelined for Venge. He has a strong ability to hit left-handed pitchers, so he would be a good platoon partner. Are you satisfied from the beginning? Almost none.

What the Mets can’t do is block Benji completely or assume he’s ready to face major league pitchers right away. This is a challenge that requires a certain sensitivity in timing that they have no complete control over.