The New York Mets have been built to win this offseason, but should a sudden question mark at catcher cause them to go back to the free-agent market?
On Sunday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza informed reporters that starting catcher Francisco Alvarez would miss six to eight weeks because of a fractured left hamate bone (one of eight carpal bones that are situated in the lower row of the wrist on the pinky side).
This marks the second consecutive year that an injury has caused Alvarez to miss significant time in the early portion of the campaign. The 23-year-old missed from April 20 to June 11 last season after tearing a ligament in his left thumb that required surgery. With the injury, he still played in 100 games, slashing .237/.307/.403 and posted an OPS+ of 101. League average is considered 100.
While Alvarez is expected to return sometime in April, time is of the essence for the Mets, one of three teams (along with the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies) that are expected to contend for the National League East title. The first of the matchups for the Mets against their two key division rivals comes at home from April 21-23 as the Phillies pay a visit.
That could be about the time Alvarez slides back into the lineup, but what about the games before that (with the Mets opening the season on the road against the Houston Astros on March 27)?
Luis Torrens will likely take over as the primary catcher for the Mets. The 28-year-old has a career OPS+ of 81, including an 89 last season in his first campaign with the Mets as he appeared in 47 games, all coming in June or after.
While he will likely take the bulk of the time behind the plate in Alvarez’s absence, could the Mets make a quick pickup that would boost their production potential? Veteran catchers Yasmani Grandal and James McCann are both available through free agency, with McCann spending a pair of seasons with the Mets in 2021-22 before heading to the Baltimore Orioles.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns didn’t discount the idea on Sunday morning when asked about looking outside the organization for some help in Alvarez’s absence.
