New York Mets: Five catchers to target with depleted depth at position
The New York Mets are off to a great start, but their catching depth has taken a serious hit with injuries to Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki. Who can they target now to upgrade the position?
The New York Mets have salt and peppered their way to a 10-1 start, which is the best record in the National League. They’ve gotten big clutch hits, they finally got all of their top five starters to take a turn through the rotation, and their bullpen has been lights out.
With the good comes the bad, and their catching situation has taken a nose dive in a New York Minute. Travis d’Arnaud needs Tommy John surgery and will be out for the year. Kevin Plawecki has a broken hand after being hit by a pitch earlier in the week, and he will be out for a while. In the meantime, the New York Mets have called up prospect Tomas Nido and veteran Jose Lobaton.
Sandy Alderson says the Mets will be "aware of what else" may be available at the catching position. But they're not actively looking to add a Major League catcher.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 13, 2018
Even though Plawecki will be out around a month, the club should look for some additional depth.
The New York Mets brought back old friend Johnny Monell, but they should be digging a little bit deeper. Who are five catchers that they could add to their roster to make the club deeper? Let’s take a look.
The Boston Red Sox didn’t want to lose Blake Swihart on waivers since he was out of options, so they kept him on the roster. Swihart doesn’t have a natural fit on the club with Sandy Leon and Christian Vasquez as the central backstops. Going into last night, Swihart has appeared in just five games with seven plate appearances.
In the National League, Swihart’s positional flexibility would be an asset, and even if the New York Mets carried three catchers once Plawecki came back, Swihart could be an asset on their bench. In his major league career, Swihart has played the outfield, first base and caught.
What it would take to get him from the Red Sox is a whole other story. They’d probably have to give up a pitcher. Would they give up Zack Wheeler? Probably not. Could they offer Corey Oswalt? Maybe, but I’m not sure the Red Sox would take it.
The New York Mets have some pitching depth, and with the Red Sox catching depth, a deal would make some sense, but I’m not sure the Red Sox want to give up on Swihart just yet
The speculation is going to be for the New York Mets to try and trade for J.T. Realmuto from the Miami Marlins, but, Realmuto will cost an arm and a leg, and he hasn’t played in a game yet this season.
Instead, the New York Mets should focus on the other Florida club and rescue Wilson Ramos out of baseball purgatory.
Ramos is off to a slow start with the Rays, but this is the same player who two years ago was an All-Star and integral part of the Washington Nationals before tearing his ACL.
He came back last year and in 60 games hit .260 with a .737 OPS. Ramos is in the final year of his contract and is slated to make $10 million. Will the Mets be willing to absorb that kind of money for a catcher?
For Tampa, it makes perfect sense to trade a veteran on an expiring deal for a team that isn’t entirely going anywhere. If the New York Mets pick up most if not all of the salary, they probably wouldn’t have to give up a ton to bring him into the fold.
If Plawecki has a hard time coming back from his hand injury and the other catchers don’t produce, Ramos could be an option.
You can’t talk about trading for a catcher without bringing up the name J.T. Realmuto. Is he healthy? No, not right now, and I think if the New York Mets would even think about trading for him, they have to see him back into game action.
As I said earlier, the cost is going to be exorbitant. You’re looking at Steven Matz, Dominic Smith and probably another piece in order to get Realmuto. Maybe Brandon Nimmo instead of Smith, but young, controllable parts are what the Marlins are going to want, and they may make the Mets overpay since they are in the same division.
Realmuto is a young, excellent catcher, who won’t be a free agent until after the 2020 season. He can grow along with the Mets young pitching staff.
I don’t see the New York Mets paying the freight to get Realmuto to New York. They want to hang on to some of the controllable assets they have, and their strength thus far has been their depth. I could be wrong, but I don’t see it.
Free Agent Market
I’ve lumped Geovany Soto and Carlos Ruiz together because they are both veteran guys, much like Lobaton. Both are free agents and could more than likely be had on a minor league deal and help out the depth in the minors as the get back into shape and then possibly be a factor if needed.
Ruiz hit just .216 with an 86 OPS+ last year, but he’s a veteran who knows the league and can provide some leadership, even if he doesn’t produce with the stick.
Soto only appeared in 13 games last year for the Chicago White Sox.
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Other names to consider are Ryan Hanigan, Miguel Montero, who was just let go by the Washington Nationals, and Derek Norris.
If I had to guess what the New York Mets will do, I would say it’s probably going the veteran route besides Monell. If Plawecki comes back and has a hard time, they could go the trade route, but with it being so early in the season, I can’t see them swinging big and getting someone.