Mets Catching Situation

Sure, it might be nice to get a better glove/bat back there but it’s just not there this winter. The FA options are pretty terrible, unless we’re signing Varitek’s grit, heart, grinding and leadership (he’s a true leader blah blah blah). The team shouldn’t stand pat on mediocrity if there is a way to upgrade but I’m right there with you in that there isn’t a reasonably priced/good/talented alternative out there. In any event, the team has bigger problems to work on right now, like who else will be throwing the ball to our very average catchers. Get that done first.

I’ll also admit I haven’t heard much in the way of clamoring for change at the catcher’s position during the Hot Stove, although there is probably tons of it in last year’s game threads. I don’t know that folks around here were too endeared to The Schneid. We do love us some Hippo, tho.

But regardless of our opinion on them we don’t even have the pieces to get one. They won’t trade Salty to Boston for a package involving Masteron or Bowden, they either want both of Buckholz, what could we possibly offer them.

just to fire him before pitchers and catchers report to st lucie.

But next year, we need to make an upgrade.

Let’s get a left fielder and some more pitchers first. ;)

obviously we’ve got to figure something out for the long term. at the end of this season both schneider & castro becomes FA’s. i don’t think its crazy to think about bringing both back on a 1 yr basis if nothing else pans out but its interesting to think about some other options:

- victor martinez is also a FA after ‘09. and CLE has shoppach & santana so probably won’t bring him back. this season will tell if he hit his wall last season. hes still not bad defensively though his recurring injuries seem to point to him shifting to a part time DH type role.

- bengie molina and ramon hernandez will be FA’s too. like i said in the post, neither is a significant upgrade over schneid today. hernandez plays putrid D, like possibly the worst in baseball. and molina will be 36. not enticing.

- like i mentioned before, CLE seemingly has 2 good fulltime catchers on the horizon. by all accounts, both are decent to bad defenders but both can really hit. i’d definitely investigate a trade.

- another intriguing team is SEA. they have catchers, in fact its about their only strength. they’ve got johjima locked up for 3 more season (ugh) and jeff clement is an option though a horrid defender and may end up at 1B/DH. but they’ve also got 2 very solid catching prospects in rob johnson and adam moore. both are nearly ML ready, both are great defenders, moore has the higher offensive upside so johnson could be available. even johjima was ok up until ’08, if he bounces back offensively he could be had for almost nothing and his D is still not bad. though he is 32 so thats not a great option.

- and of course theres the texas catchers. i think i’ve made it clear that i don’t love that option. they’re all ok but like Gina mentioned, TEX wants a buccholz level pitcher/prospect for salty which i won’t do. teagarden isn’t available and ramirez is a DH.

- ARI likes chris snyder and is shopping miguel montero. hes another young guy who put up some really good #‘s in the minors and hasn’t really gotten a shot yet. he wasn’t great last year but thats because ARI used him mostly as a pinch hitter. i could see him becoming a very solid option, plus hes young and is under contract for 4-5 more years. if they don’t hold us up (which they probably will) i really like that option.

- one more interesting option is from within, josh thole. he could be getting close by next spring. and though he probably won’t profile as an everyday hitter, if he can continue to get on base and improve that D a bit he could definitely be a solid platoon partner.

i really like the SEA option, either adam moore or rob johnson would be a fine fit IMO. both are young, at least one is probably available, both have 5+ yrs under control, both play good D and look to be at least average hitters. continue the platoon routine with a castro/thole type guy and i think we’re fine behind the plate for a few years.

but I really could care less if we upgraded the catching position this year. Schneider and Castro are what they are, a league average platoon. It could be better, but it could be a lot worse. Considering what’s out there, I’d much rather upgrade LF or 2B, not to mention the rotation.

I also think a lot of Mets fans have been spoiled, not just by Piazza but by Hundley and Carter before them, and LoDuca’s 2006. I think a lot of people just assume that the Mets will always have good offensive catchers, which obviously isn’t the case.

I haven’t heard anyone talking about the Mets’ catching situation… online or on WFAN.
Let’s put it this way: if the Mets don’t make the playoffs next year, it’s not going to be because of Castro and Schneider. Though I would like to see a little more Castro and a little less Schneider.

This is far from a factual statement.