Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets announced on Thursday afternoon that they’ve signed catcher Omar Narváez to a one-year deal with a player option for 2024. Narváez will make $8 million in 2023 and then has a $7 million player option for the 2024 season.
The left-handed hitting Narváez had a rough 2022 season at the plate for the Brewers with a .206/.292/.305 slash line in 84 games. The 30-year-old had a much better offensive season in 2021 when he hit .266/.342/.402 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs, and his lone All-Star appearance. Narváez also had back-to-back seasons of posting a 119 OPS+ in 2018 and 2019.
Narváez has been one of the better framers in baseball over the last three seasons with FanGraphs ranking him second among catchers at 20.2 with their metric that measures framing.
“We are excited to bring Omar to New York,” said Mets general manager Billy Eppler. “Omar has contact ability and solid approach at the plate, and his left-handed bat fits our roster well. Additionally, the defensive skill and experience he brings behind the plate will be great additions for the Mets and our pitching staff.”
The Mets dealt away catcher James McCann late on Wednesday night in a salary dump to the Baltimore Orioles. The Mets are still paying $19 million of the $24 million owed to McCann over the next two seasons. The Mets will get a player to be named later or cash considerations in return.
Narváez joins Tomas Nido and top prospect Francisco Alvarez as the Mets catchers on the 40-man roster. To make room on the 40-man roster for Narváez, the Mets have sold the contract of right-handed pitcher Yoan Lopez to the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League.
