According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, catcher Devin Mesoraco has an opt-out clause in his minor league contract that can be exercised on Wednesday should the Mets not place him on the major league roster.
To keep him in the organization otherwise, the Mets must pay him a $100,000 retention bonus which is attached to a June 1 opt-out clause.
Mesoraco, originally acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in 2018, was re-signed on a minors deal shortly before spring training began. With incumbent backup Travis d’Arnaud still recovering from April Tommy John surgery, bringing Mesoraco back was a shrewd move from a depth standpoint.
However, things have moved slowly for d’Arnaud, who had not appeared behind the plate in a Grapefruit League game until last Thursday. With Opening Day just over a week away, the Mets now have an important determination to make as it pertains to 30-year-old’s availability.
Mesoraco will only opt out of his current contract if it is clear that d’Arnaud is 100 percent ready to assume backup duties to Wilson Ramos from the start of the season. Given how long it took for d’Arnaud to get into games, it seems plausible that Mesoraco will be given a spot on the Opening Day roster and start collecting the prorated portion of his $1.75 million major league salary.
In 11 Grapefruit League appearances, Mesoraco is hitting .240/.240/.480 with three doubles, a home run, and two RBI. After he was acquired for Matt Harvey last season, Mesoraco posted an exactly league-average 100 OPS+ with 10 home runs — nine of which came in the seventh inning or later.
If d’Arnaud is healthy and Mesoraco is unable to find a team with a major league spot, the Mets could simply shell out the $100,000 to keep him around in Syracuse as depth with Tomas Nido. That fee, while relatively inconsequential, could instead go towards a pair of waiver claims, which may come in handy as players around the league are designated for assignment ahead of Opening Day.
