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Early Predictions for the 2018 New York Mets Lineup

By Nolan Rich

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 15: Manager Terry Collins of the New York Mets watches from the dugout during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 15, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. All uniformed team members are wearing jersey number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 15: Manager Terry Collins of the New York Mets watches from the dugout during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 15, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. All uniformed team members are wearing jersey number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – AUGUST 03: Catcher Jonathan Lucroy (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 03: Catcher Jonathan Lucroy (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Catcher: Jonathan Lucroy

With 2018 projecting to be a weak free agent class, one of the few positions that there will be players available will be catcher and the prize will be Jonathan Lucroy.

While Lucroy’s numbers have dipped in 2017, this actually could help the Mets get Lucroy on a slightly cheaper deal. Lucroy will be an investment, but the good news is that the Mets will have plenty of salary cap space after the payroll cuts at the trade deadline.

Lucroy would be a great addition in terms of calling games for this talented pitching staff and has enough of an arm behind the plate (throwing out 27% of runners this year) to help control the running game which has taken advantage of the Mets pitching staff in recent years.

The Mets clearly think he would be a good fit as they tried to trade for him a few years ago. With such a depleted market, the Mets should pull the trigger and realize that Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki are not everyday catchers.

In the Mets lineup, Lucroy’s ability to play first base also means he can play in more games than a standard catcher. If he plays 140 games between the two positions, the team should expect, based on his career, about 15 home runs and 75 RBI, which would be a huge upgrade for the position.

While he will command a high salary for a 31-year-old catcher, with no long-term solution behind the plate and lack of free agents on the market, the New York Mets should break the bank to invest in a reliable offensive and defensive catcher.

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