With Robinson Canó suspended, who will replace him for Mets in 2021?

Earlier this week, Ken Davidoff of The New York Post reported that the Mets had interest in Ozuna, who led the National League in home runs and RBIs in 2020. The fit feels even better now, as Ozuna could replace the offensive production left by Canó, and with the extra money, his signing wouldn't necessarily prevent the Mets from also landing J.T. Realmuto, George Springer or Trevor Bauer. While the preference over the lifetime of the deal would be for Ozuna to DH, he could play left field in 2021.

The team's primary left fielder in 2020 was super-utility star Jeff McNeil. With Ozuna in left field, McNeil could move to the infield on a more regular basis. That could mean playing second base on a fairly regular basis, as Mets' radio voice Howie Rose suggested. McNeil's positional flexibility gives the team so many options.

WFAN's Boomer Esiason was among the first to wish for the Mets to sign LeMahieu away from the Yankees this offseason to play second base now that the position is open. Is that the most likely outcome? Perhaps not, but the suspension of Canó at least opens up the possibility.

In his two seasons in the Bronx, LeMahieu slashed .336/.386/.536, grading out as the 12th-most valuable offensive player in the sport. Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors has projected that LeMahieu will land a four-year/$68 million deal this offseason, so the Mets would have to make a relatively long-term commitment to land the 32-year-old. Should they be comfortable with going to four years for LeMahieu, they'll still face competition for the three-time All-Star.

Even it the DH doesn't return to the National League in 2021, the expectation is it will become permanent in the senior circuit in 2022 as part of a new CBA. That means that even if Canó returns to the Mets in 2022, he and LeMahieu would likely be able to co-exist in the lineup.

Canó's suspension opens up the realistic possibility that Rosario and Giménez could co-exist, at least for a season, in the Mets' middle infield.

Giménez is the better defender at the position, as Rosario, 24, has -35 career defensive runs saved at shortstop. The most sensible solution then would be to play Giménez at shortstop and Rosario at second base, though MLB.com's Anthony DiComo suggested the opposite arrangement is possible.

Theoretically, the Mets could also consider the possibility of using one of the two in a trade package, and shifting whichever remains to second base, if they landed a star shortstop like Francisco Lindor.

Prior to the 2019 season, the Yankees gave LeMahieu a two-year/$24 million deal, despite employing Gleyber Torres and knowing that Didi Gregorius would eventually return from Tommy John surgery. Could the Mets follow a similar strategy this offseason in terms of signing a veteran that the market has undervalued? Maybe.

While LeMahieu and Kolten Wong are the two major free agents at the position, Cesar Hernandez and Tommy La Stella are productive veterans that the Mets could consider if the market dictates that they will receive one-year deals.

If the Mets were to sign either Hernandez or La Stella, they would almost certainly be the opening day second baseman. It wouldn't, however, preclude the team from playing McNeil, Giménez or Rosario at the position if either struggled. La Stella is also capable of playing third base, which could be of interest to the Mets as well.

The Mets could also consider getting involved in the free-agent shortstop market for any of Marcus Semien, Didi Gregorius or Andrelton Simmons if they ultimately are forced to settle for a one-year deal. Under this arrangement, McNeil would spend the bulk of his time in left field or at third base, while Rosario would probably be the starting second baseman. Giménez would serve in more of a utility role.