Prior to the 2019 season, new GM Brodie Van Wagenen made it one of his top priorities to find a new starting catcher. The former agent had his sights set on his old client, J.T. Realmuto. Unfortunately the Marlins were never interested in the package of prospects the Mets could offer and he instead ended up on the Phillies.
This offseason, the Mets should try to go back and correct their previous mistake, adding the 29-year-old catcher at all costs.
When the Mets could not land Realmuto, they pivoted to the free agent options of Yasmani Grandal and Wilson Ramos. Grandal likely would have solved the Mets problems at the position long-term, but Ramos ultimately fell into the Mets price range on a two-year, $19 million deal. That contract has a $10 million club option for 2021, with a $1.5 million buyout clause.
Ramos had a solid offensive season in 2019, hitting .288/.351/.416, with 73 RBI. While the Mets had one of the better offensive catchers in baseball, Ramos struggled behind the plate. He is not a great pitch framer and has problems controlling the running game.
All of that could be ignored if Ramos was a premier run producer, but the early results have not been good for the 33-year-old this year. Through his first 15 games, Ramos is hitting below the Mendoza line at .192. His OPS is a paltry .564, as he is only slugging .288 with his two doubles and one home run.
On the other hand, Realmuto has gotten off to a hot start, hitting .282/.364/.667. His 1.030 OPS is higher than anyone on the Mets, as he has already mashed five home runs in just 11 games played. Realmuto is a budding superstar, coming off a season in which he took both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger honors for catchers in the National League.
Realmuto would be a vast improvement when it comes to his work behind the plate, which could help the pitching staff immensely. Last year, Realmuto had the fastest pop time in the game, at a blazing 1.89 seconds. His caught stealing percentage of 47% was the best mark in the league. Realmuto also ranks in the 94th percentile when it comes to pitch framing, whereas Ramos ranks in the 5th.
As he reaches free agency for the first time this offseason, the argument can be made that Realmuto is the top player available and the best all-around catcher in baseball.
Usually a player of that caliber would be a non-starter with the current ownership group, as they have not signed the top available free agent since the days of Carlos Beltran. But with news of the Wilpon’s fielding final offers in their sale of the team, it is fair to be optimistic about the Mets ability to spend this offseason.
The Phillies would surely like to retain Realmuto, but all talks of an extension have failed to come to fruition at this point. After signing both Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler to nine-figure contracts over the last two offseasons, Philadelphia may not be willing to pay Realmuto top dollar.
When the two sides were talking about an extension in June, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia learned that Realmuto’s camp saw Paul Goldschmidt‘s five-year, $130 million contract as a good comp for what they would like.
If the Phillies are unable to meet those demands, hopefully the Mets new owners are, because Realmuto is the one player that could really change everything for the Mets this offseason.
