The New York Mets are going to pass on free agent catcher Matt Wieters, a source told John Harper of the New York Daily News.
The Mets source told Harper, “We’re not spending our money on a catcher”.
Earlier this offseason, the Mets hired former long time Arizona Diamondbacks coach Glenn Sherlock to become their third base and catching coach.
The Mets are hopeful that the well respected Sherlock will be able to help catcher Travis d’Arnaud have a bounce back season in 2017.
They also have veteran catcher Rene Rivera returning as the backup to d’Arnaud after avoiding arbitration by agreeing on a $1.75 million contract.
Original Report – Jan. 4
The year 2017 will see the same group of catchers back at Citi Field as Mets General Manager, Sandy Alderson, has stated as such. What can we expect from the trio of Travis d’Arnaud, Kevin Plawecki and Rene Rivera?
All eyes will be on d’Arnaud this year, who gets a vote of confidence from upper management after having a disastrous 2016. Travis will come into next season with a lot to prove in what could be his last chance to do so in a Metropolitan uniform.
The team’s incumbent catcher appeared in just 75 games last year while hitting to a .247/.307/.323 batting line to go along with just four homers and 15 RBI. It is possible this was just an anomaly in what was another injury ravaged season for the 27-year-old backstop. While playing just 67 games in 2015, he hit to a .268/.340/.485 batting line with 12 homers and 41 RBI.
His offense though is not his only struggle as of late as baserunners began to run on d’Arnaud at will. He allowed a career high 61 stolen bases, while throwing out just 17. It was an alarming number for d’Arnaud and something that must be worked on diligently in spring training for Travis to have success behind the plate. It will be a make or break year for the team’s primary catcher.
Rivera, 33, is likely to be the team’s primary backup for d’Arnaud in 2017. He has also taken on the role of Noah Syndergaard‘s personal catcher. As Thor struggles to hold runners on, Rivera has done a tremendous job on cutting down would be base stealers.
Not known for his offense, Rivera struggled at times at the plate, hitting to a .222/.291/.341 batting line to go with six homers and 26 RBI. Rivera had some key clutch hits throughout the season in 2016 though and has shown a knack to deliver when needed.
Rivera was a welcome addition to the team in 2016 and is a suitable backup. Defensively, he allowed 43 stolen bases while throwing out 18. Possibly his biggest asset is his ability to control the game. Any time a pitcher has seemed shaken, Rivera is the first out there to calm them down or pump them up in the right situation. This is something d’Arnaud can certainly work on as well.
Lastly we have Plawecki, the Mets’ 25-year-old former prospect who continues to look to find a starting role behind the plate. So far he has shown an inability to hit major league pitching, batting to a 197/.298/.265 line to go with one homer and 11 RBI in 48 games in 2016.
Plawecki has had his opportunities and has been unable to take hold of the position. With d’Arnaud going down multiple times in 2015 and 2016, Plawecki was unable to get a grasp of the position he strived to start at. He has become somewhat of a forgotten man as he was once thought of as a top catching prospect. More opportunities are sure to come his way entering 2017, especially with the likelihood of d’Arnaud again going down with injury at some point in the coming season.
What was once thought of as a plethora of big time catching prospects has suddenly looked like a position the team desperately needs help with. Down in the minors sits another big prospect in Tomas Nido. If he continues to progress the way he has so far and the current core of catchers continue to struggle, it is hard not to wonder just how soon we could possibly see him at Citi Field?
It will be an interesting season for this group of catchers, especially for d’Arnaud and Plawecki as the team seems to be at wits end with their current group. What do you think this season will bring for our incumbent catchers? Will any find success in 2017 or will the team be shopping for a backstop come July?
