Additional players almost certainly will be added to the Mets roster once the lockout concludes, and manager Buck Showalter acknowledged Friday that another outfielder could be a consideration. 

The Mets already signed free agents Starling Marte and Mark Canha this offseason to join Brandon Nimmo in the outfield, but beyond that there is haziness: Dominic Smith and Jeff McNeil can play the outfield, but are also trade candidates. 

“[The outfield] is something we have talked about, where we are,” Showalter said, referring to his conversations with general manager Billy Eppler. “We are on the same page with everything where that is concerned. It’s a scenario that we are examining to see if we feel comfortable with it. We’re always going to look within first.” 

Showalter isn’t supposed to discuss major league players during the lockout, but at one point he slipped and said “if” Michael Conforto signs with another team. It could be the manager just misspoke, but it also left room to wonder if the door could be ajar for a Conforto return. Conforto declined the Mets’ qualifying offer and remains a free agent. Once the lockout concludes, there will be a game of musical chairs for players to sign contracts, and that could benefit the Mets if they hope to re-sign Conforto to a short deal.