Mets Face Challenges at Catcher Position

The Mets are not the only team grappling with catcher issues.

However, for a franchise that has been hoping for Francisco Alvarez to solidify his role, their patience is once again being tested.

Since Alvarez caught his fourth consecutive game on August 11, the Mets have alternated between Alvarez and Luis Torrens without either starting more than two games in a row.

This shift reflects not only Alvarez’s struggles on both offense and defense but also highlights Torrens’ reliability.

Considering how difficult it can be to find quality catchers, the Mets might have to carry this duo into the next season, although that was not originally the plan.

Alvarez was anticipated to take on the majority of the playing time, with hopes that he would establish more consistency—and maintain his health.

Nearly four years after his MLB debut late in the 2022 season, Alvarez still grapples with extended slumps and injuries.

Recently, he seems to be facing significant challenges with his batting.

As the Mets prepare for their homestand against the Giants at Citi Field, Alvarez finds himself enduring a tough slump, going just 5-for-51, which includes two doubles, four walks, and a staggering 29 strikeouts over his last 16 games.

In contrast, Torrens, who began the season poorly, has rebounded to post a .753 OPS since May 10.

The Mets even signed him to an extension this season and kept him through the trade deadline.

While they have a good grasp on Torrens’ capabilities, Alvarez remains an enigma.

Typically, Alvarez performs worse against left-handed pitchers than right-handers, but this season has been especially tough, with a mere .583 OPS against lefties compared to .757 against righties.

Out of 124 right-handed hitters with at least 100 plate appearances against lefties, only four have done worse than him.

Additionally, Alvarez has struck out a career-high 30.6 percent of the time.

The Mets have also added right-hander Cameron Weston from the Orioles and assigned him to Triple-A Syracuse.

The 26-year-old has made just one major league appearance, pitching an inning for Baltimore in May. He spent the majority of this season with Triple-A Norfolk but struggled to make an impact.

To create space on the 40-man roster, catcher Shawn Ross has been designated for assignment. Ross was acquired off waivers from the Pirates last month.