NEW YORK -- The New York Mets had plenty of fill-in options for Lucas Duda at first base last season, including Daniel Murphy and Michael Cuddyer. With Murphy now with the Washington Nationals and Cuddyer retired, the options to cover first base on days off for Duda are far more limited.
In fact, Wilmer Flores -- who has never appeared at first base in the major leagues -- is the primary option to spell Duda against a difficult southpaw, or if Duda otherwise needs a day off, team officials reiterated Monday.