Francisco Alvarez believes Mets have ‘the best lineup in baseball’

PORT ST. LUCIE — To say that Francisco Alvarez has high expectations for the Mets lineup would be an understatement. 

Juan Soto is on board, and last week the team reached agreement with Pete Alonso on a two-year deal to return. Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos are the returning Mets players who had big seasons offensively. 

“I think we are the best lineup in baseball,” Alvarez said Monday on the report date for pitchers and catchers. “We have Petey. We have a little bit of everything. We have hitting guys. We have power hitters. We have everything. We have the best lineup in baseball, so we can fight with any team.” 

Alvarez wants to be part of that conversation after an underwhelming season offensively in which he posted a .237/.307/.403 slash line with 11 homers and 47 RBIs in 100 games. 

To that end, Alvarez hired a swing coach this offseason, following a recommendation from former teammate J.D. Martinez. 

“Last year was my worst year and it was a little bit tough,” Alvarez said. “But I think this year is going to be great. Last year I lost my mind for a little bit. I think that’s normal. Everybody has to move past those moments. If I have bad moments here I don’t think it’s going to affect me.” 

Alvarez missed seven weeks after he underwent surgery last April to repair a torn left thumb ligament.

He said the thumb wasn’t a factor in his offensive struggles last season, but he is looking forward to seeing how he performs with it fully strengthened. 

“I feel way stronger right now,” Alvarez said. “I feel way better. My thumb is way better, so I think this year I have no excuses for nothing.” 

Ryne Stanek said he remained optimistic throughout the winter that he would return to the Mets, but his new deal with the club materialized quickly.

The veteran reliever agreed to a one-year contract worth $4.5 million in late January. 

The Mets acquired Stanek last year at the trade deadline. He was an important piece to the team’s postseason bullpen, pitching to a 3.38 ERA in seven appearances. 

“The team is good, but [the Mets] were really welcoming for me and my family,” Stanek said. “The baseball is the baseball. That’s the easy part to see. It’s a lot of the stuff that goes into the behind the scenes, like the quality of life things that matter for people with kids. … They took great care of my family and that meant a lot to me.” 

Carlos Mendoza will hold his first session of spring training with reporters on Tuesday. The Mets’ first official workout for pitchers and catchers is scheduled for Wednesday.