#Dominic Smith is likely Mets winner in Yoenis Cespedes mess

ATLANTA — Yoenis Cespedes opting out removes a potential big bat from the Mets lineup, but there are plenty of candidates to fill his DH role.

Maybe a preview of the Mets’ plan was on display in Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the Braves in which J.D. Davis started at DH and Dominic Smith in left field. Smith, who had largely been relegated to the bench in the Mets’ first nine games of the season, will likely be the primary benefactor from Cespedes’ departure.

Davis has struggled defensively in left field and team brass appears to have backed off an earlier decision to let him see action at third base this season, behind Jeff McNeil. So Davis would factor heavily into the new DH equation, with it also possible Robinson Cano could take more at-bats at the spot.

But another possibility would be moving Brandon Nimmo to left field in an attempt to upgrade the team’s defense. The Mets acquired Billy Hamilton in a trade with the Giants on Sunday in an attempt to add a glove in center field, at least as a late-inning defensive replacement as Jake Marisnick sits on the injured list with a strained left hamstring.