Mets backup catcher options for the 2021 season already with the organization

Mets backup catcher candidate: Robinson Chirinos

The relationship between the Mets and Robinson Chirinos began this season at the trade deadline when they went out and acquired him from the Texas Rangers. Although next year is his age 37 season, backup catchers can usually handle a load even as their 40th birthday approaches.

Chirinos has been a part-time catcher for most of his career. Not quite a backup, he has been more of a platoon player with plate appearances often in the 250-350 range. He has only reached 100 games played twice in his career. At his age, he’s not going to go out there expecting anything more than a platoon role at best.

The Mets do have some control of his future. His contract calls for $6.5 million in 2021 which is probably too steep for a backup role. They could always buy him out and then re-sign him. This is a little more palatable.

Throughout his big league career, Chirinos has been a low-average yet high-power producer. He has averaged more than 20 home runs per 162 games but it often comes with batting averages below .240. His personal-best is at only .255.

Chirinos could be a good guy to have around the clubhouse. During any time he may have alongside younger catchers, it’s possible he passes along some knowledge.

The one problem here is that he won’t get much time with a guy like Nido or anyone else outside of spring training. We’re all going to assume the Mets’ starting catcher in 2021 is J.T. Realmuto or James McCann—possibly a trade candidate if not one of them.

If the Mets go with Chirinos, it’s the end of Nido in New York. It’s not a bad decision but is it an upgrade to have a temporary backup catcher rather than a guy with more years in his future?

Mets backup catcher candidate: Rene Rivera

Not to sound grim but Rene Rivera will be buried as the Mets backup catcher. For the last half-decade, it’s where he has always come back to. And in 2021, it’s not a bad choice.

Rivera is similar to Chirinos but less costly and more familiar with the pitchers already. I’m sure Noah Syndergaard would love to have him back in the mix next year as he looks to work himself back from Tommy John Surgery.

Rivera hasn’t played with the Mets much in the past two seasons. With the club overall, he’s slashing .226/.288/.366. This is the high point of what we can expect from him as they actually exceed his career totals with every ball club he has ever suited up for.

I don’t love the idea of Rivera returning to the Mets as anything more than a Triple-A emergency option. Thankfully, this is probably all he can hope for.

Rivera hit a whole bunch of home runs for the Syracuse Mets in 2019. This doesn’t warrant some big league at-bats but it at least shows us he has some gas in the tank left.

Rivera is probably going to come back to the Mets in some capacity in 2021. He feels like a lifer with this franchise. I don’t think he’s ready to retire in a year with a pandemic if he believes his body can hold up for one more season.

I have Rivera lower on my list of potential major league backup options in 2021. As far as the Triple-A team is concerned, I’m bringing him back because who else knows Citi Field better than him?

Mets backup catcher option: Ali Sanchez

If Ali Sanchez is staying with the Mets, it’s not going to be as a starting catcher. Fortunately, even if the club has a big-name backstop behind the plate in 2021, he can get some experience as the backup.

I don’t believe Sanchez will win the backup catcher job out of spring training unless an injury occurs. One full year at Triple-A next season should give the club an idea of what he has to offer them.

Sanchez isn’t a highly-rated prospect and his numbers show us why. He has been a light-hitting catcher throughout his minor league career. His defense is what we should pay attention to most as it’s the one major requirement for any number two catcher on a big league roster.

Unfortunately, in his limited time playing for the 2020 Mets, we didn’t get to see him do a whole lot. He got his first hit out of the way. Beyond that, Sanchez’s abilities are a bit of a mystery.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Sanchez put up numbers similar to Nido once he does become a regular big league player. Nothing indicates a power surge from his bat.

No one on this list has a taller mountain to climb than Sanchez. The others have more experience than him. It’s just that simple.

But like anyone who has gone to a job interview will wonder, how do I get experience for a job when the only way to get the experience is to have the job?

Catchers get hurt and we will probably see Sanchez get some playing time in 2021. As far as working as the backup goes, he’ll need to build up his resume further and hope for a great 2022 audition.

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Who do you think the Mets’ backup catcher will be in 2021?