Rising Apple
FanSided

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

By Tim Boyle

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 26: Tomas Nido #3 of the New York Mets in action against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on July 26, 2020 in New York City. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Braves defeated the Mets 14-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 26: Tomas Nido #3 of the New York Mets in action against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on July 26, 2020 in New York City. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Braves defeated the Mets 14-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Mets
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 08: Rene Rivera #44 of the New York Mets in action against the Houston Astros during a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

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?

Home/New York Mets News