Since Mike Piazza left after the 2005 season, the New York Mets have been looking for a consistent presence behind the plate.
Despite the promise of young catchers Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki, they just have not been able to stay healthy.
Entering the 2018 season, the New York Mets were counting on the injuries of past seasons to Travis d’Arnaud to improve. When healthy, d’Arnaud had been effective with the bat, posting an OPS of .718 or higher in three of his last four seasons.
However, d’Arnaud was lost for the season on April 13 when it was announced that he tore his UCL in his right elbow and required Tommy John surgery. Plawecki, who impressed during spring training, also found himself on the disabled list with a hairline fracture in his right hand.
Since then, the Mets have received very little in terms of production out of replacements Thomas Nido and Jose Lobaton. The pair has combined for just three hits in 31 at-bats, while scoring just three runs and driving in one.
Overall, Mets catchers are last in MLB in hits (nine) and total bases (15). How the Mets intend on handling their catching situation for the remainder of the season depends on who you ask.
According to Kristie Ackert of New York Daily News, the Mets are not planning on making any moves to add to the position until they evaluate Plawecki’s situation returning from injury.
However, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets front office brass has been active in scouring the market for potential replacements to wear the tools of ignorance.
Names that have been mentioned are Florida’s J.T. Realmuto, Tampa Bay’s Wilson Ramos, Boston’s Blake Swihart, and Houston’s Max Stassi.
As the Mets continue their road trip on St. Louis and Plawecki’s return becomes closer, it will be interesting to see what the team does.
