New York Mets Rumors: In The Market For Backup Catcher?

New York Mets Rumors: Despite having two MLB ready catchers, the Mets could be in the market for another backup catcher to have to start the regular season.

New York Mets rumors have picked back up again in recent weeks. With some injuries around the baseball world, the Mets have found themselves in the middle of a number of rumors with Ruben Tejada being at the center of them. While a lot of teams have been calling the Mets, it seems as if the Mets are interested in adding to their roster as well.

According to ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin, the Mets are interested in acquiring a backup catcher that would break camp with the team to start the regular season his source said. This is a peculiar thing for a team like the Mets to be looking for on the trade market, as they have two young catchers with bright futures in Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki.  But, that is also a reason for the Mets to be looking for an alternative backup catcher.

Plawecki still has some developing in his game to do, so having him sit on the bench watching d’Arnaud get a lion’s share of the playing time would make little sense. Instead, according to Rubin, the Mets plan on getting Plawecki consistent at-bats at Triple-A to start the season. He says they are aiming to have him get 150-200 at-bats with Las Vegas to keep him sharp.

If that is the case, the Mets will have to turn to someone else to be the backup catcher at the beginning of the season. One player to keep an eye on that is already in camp is Johnny Monell. But, according to officials, the team is currently dissatisfied with the production they have seen from the catchers in camp, including Monell.

Mets’ manager Terry Collins weighed in on what could possibly happen with Plawecki to start the season on Saturday, saying, “We haven’t had that discussion as to where he’s going to fit the best, or what we think is the best for everyone involved. That has not taken place. What we’ve got to do is take what we think are the best 25 and get out of the gate and go from there. If the conversation goes to, ‘Hey, look, we need to have this guy ready to be an everyday guy,’ he may have to go play [in Las Vegas]. If we think we’re better off being able to get him two to three games a week at times [backing up d’Arnaud], then he’s got a good chance of making the club.”

Earlier in the offseason, there were talks that the Mets were going to try out d’Arnaud and Plawecki at different positions so that they could get both of the players into the lineup on a more consistent basis. There hasn’t been any more developments there, so the Mets will have a decision to make regarding Plawecki to begin the season.

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While he has shown that he can play at the major league level, it may be better for him to start in the minors so that he can stay sharp and continue developing. Unless there is a specific role for him on the major league team that will get him semi-regular at-bats, then he is probably better off starting the season in Las Vegas unless an injury occurs to d’Arnaud and he will be in an everyday role.