An MMO Fan Shot by Bill Tourjee
The Mets #1 position player prospect in MLB’s rankings, catcher Kevin Plawecki, continues to be mentioned as a possible trade chip. But should he be made available, even if the trade returns a high-end SS or prospect?
It would be safe to say that most GMs prefer to trade from positions where they have the most depth. In the Mets’ case, that would probably be pitching, 2nd basemen (Murphy, Flores, Herrera, Mazzilli), shortstops (oddly enough, they’re down there:: Reynolds, Cecchini, Rosario, Ramos) and outfielders (Nimmo, Conforto, den Dekker, Puello, Nieuwenhuis). But catchers? When Juan Centeno was claimed off waivers by the A’s, and Cam Maron was selected in the Rule 5 draft, it pretty much wiped out any positional depth we had at catcher and left Plawecki as the only prospect who may be ready to step onto the big stage.
Look for one other notable catcher in the Mets system. When you finally reach Kingsport – keep going. Imagine a season where the team is in the hunt and Travis d’Arnaud goes on a long DL stint. You want to replace him with a catcher who can both call a game and hit better than his weight? In the middle of the season, that will cost you two of your top 20 prospects, and maybe a starter, too.
The Mets are obviously pleased with Anthony Recker’s performance and he’s expected to return as the team’s primary back-up catcher. Most Mets fans remember Recker’s memorable home runs this past season, which always seemed to come at critical moments. What wasn’t as memorable was his 36.6% strikeout rate, and the fact that he couldn’t lay claim to the starting job even when d’Arnaud was demoted mid-season. Or, to press the issue, his .197 lifetime average. Despite these shortcomings, Recker is a quality back-up receiver, deserves his contract and comes across like a good guy to have in the clubhouse – but he may still not be the Mets’ best option.
D’Arnaud’s injury history is well-documented and won’t be recounted here, but only the most optimistic would bank on his giving the Mets 140 games a year for the next several years. If (or when) he has another injury, should his potent bat go on the DL with him?
Enter Plawecki, whose skill-set is very close to d’Arnaud’s. He’s a contact-first, linedrive hitter with a low strikeout rate (12% in minors) who, unlike Recker, can consistently advance runners when not driving them in. His defense seems comparable to what’s projected for d’Arnaud, giving the Mets two young, good-hitting receivers who will be under team control for many years. What more could a team ask for? What other MLB team currently has such a double threat behind the plate? Would the Cards have liked a good hitting catcher when Molina went down in the postseason?
There is even a possibility that Plawecki could play 1st base as a right-handed complement to Lucas Duda. Think of the flexibility it would give a manager in late innings. Would egos collide if two young stud catchers competed for innings? Plawecki has already stated he‘d be fine sharing the catching duties with d’Arnaud, and d’Arnaud has the security of being the GM’s prized acquisition (a “difference maker”) in the R.A. Dickey trade. Besides, what’s wrong with competition? If one is going to fold under the pressure it’s better to find out during the regular season than in the middle of the playoffs.
Finally, even a good catching prospect like Plawecki is not going to bring a Starlin Castro or Addison Russell to Citi Field unless a Syndergaard or a Montero disappear along with him. That’s a huge gamble for the Mets when they don’t know whether their prized new shortstop can thrive in a pressure cooker like the Big Apple. Too many players perform best with the type of laid back fan base and press corps you’ll find in most other baseball cities.
Given their depth at the position at every minor league level, the Mets are capable of bringing up a new promising shortstop prospect every year for the next four years. In the meantime, they could very well lay claim to the best catching tandem in the majors – IF they don’t trade Kevin Plawecki.
I was born and raised in Upstate NY and now reside in CT. My folks were from Brooklyn and we adopted the Mets when they arrived in 1962. They have been one of my life’s greatest passions. Even in their darkest days they always give us a sliver of hope.
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This Fan Shot was contributed by MMO reader Bill Tourjee. Have something you want to say about the Mets? Share your opinions with over 25,000 Met fans who read this site daily. Send your Fan Shot to [email protected]. Or ask us about becoming a regular contributor.
