New York Mets catcher Wilson Ramos spoke to the media (video via SNY) from Port St. Lucie on Tuesday and seems pretty darn excited to be here, as he very well should be after signing on to work with to a starting rotation like this.
“I feel 100 percent. Happy to be here. Ready to go to work,” Ramos said. “[For me] it does not take too long to [get acclimated to a new pitching staff]. I got […] good information about [these] guys here and they’re really, really good […] But Spring Training is for that, to [get] to know each other […]. Communication is very important [to] us.”
When asked to compare the Mets’ current starting rotation of Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler, Steven Matz, and Jason Vargas to the staff he caught in Washington (Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, to name a few), Ramos called the talent level of this Mets’ rotation “pretty similar”, adding that “these guys throw the ball really good”.
Ramos, 31, put pen-to-paper on a two-year, $19 million deal (including a $10 million team option for 2021) with the Mets this offseason and significantly upgrading this team’s catching situation. While Travis d’Arnaud and Devin Mesoraco figure to play into skipper Mickey Callaway‘s plans as well, Ramos is by all accounts the Mets’ starting backstop.
Whether or not he can stay healthy was likely the driving force behind the team picking up Mesoraco last week — plus Jacob deGrom’s affinity for his receiving services.
After tearing knee ligaments in 2012 then tearing his anterior crucial ligament in 2017, both injuries resulting in extended stays on the disabled list, naturally, Ramos was asked about his offseason training regimen and any specific attempts to stay on the field this season.
“Totally different than last year. Last year I was working out more with my knee, getting stronger. But this year I’m working on everything,” Ramos said. “Agility, speed — I’m not a fast runner but I need to work on that. That’s what I did this offseason.”
The 31-year-old Venezuelan native wouldn’t commit to a set number of games he’d like to play in this season, but sounded confident in his ability to keep himself healthy and stay on the field — something he’s had a bit of trouble doing (played more than 100 games four times in his nine-year career; 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018).
“I don’t want to say right now 150 or 140 games, but I want to be behind the plate as much as I can,” he said. “That’s what I’m working on right now; working to be healthy and to help my team behind the plate.”
Well, behind the plate, too. Ramos’ offensive prowess is one of the main reasons Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen brought him into the fold here in Queens. Last season, Mets catchers hit .208/.297/.355 with 17 home runs and 70 runs batted in over 634 plate appearances. Not ideal.
Enter Wilson Ramos. Over his nine-year MLB career, he owns a .273/.317/.439 slash line with a .325 weighted on-base average, 103 weighted runs created plus rating, and a 17.1 percent strikeout rate.
Last season, split between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies, Ramos hit .306/.358/.487 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI, a .361 wOBA, 131 wRC+, and 2.4 wins above replacement (FanGraphs).
Production at that level would add an exciting dynamic to this Mets squad from the backstop position. Even if Ramos is limited to 130 games, the duo of d’Arnaud and Mesoraco should provide viable coverage behind the dish. The drop-off in offensive productivity between these two and Ramos, while substantial, is palatable — as long as it’s not long-term.
Either way, the New York Mets are a better team on both sides of the game with Wilson Ramos in the mix. Exciting times, folks.
