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

We all know who we want to be the starting catcher for the New York Mets in 2021. Who will his backup be?

While New York Mets fans everywhere are dreaming of J.T. Realmuto and sugar plums, I’m planted on my couch in an old faded t-shirt curious about who will be the club’s backup catcher in 2021.

It’s not a glamorous position. In many ways, it’s the backup quarterback of Major League Baseball. Some guys stick around forever and even if their numbers don’t look good on paper they can get a job the following season. Leadership, grit, and the ability to teach are sometimes more important than batting average.

The Mets don’t need to go out searching for an answer at this spot. They already have four guys with the 2020 squad that could fill this need. I contemplated including Wilson Ramos in there, but I don’t think a backup catcher lacking defensive skills makes sense when he’s also getting paid well.

Mets backup catcher candidate: Tomas Nido

Perhaps the best candidate for the job is Tomas Nido. He’s young, has played well defensively, and doesn’t cost a whole lot. Nido is the whole package to remain as the club’s number two catcher in 2021.

Nido made some positive strides at the plate in 2020 to fuel this notion further. The one downside to him is that he is out of minor league options which means if they make the wrong decision and want to replace him they may lose him forever.

This isn’t a major concern, though. Nido is far enough into his big league career for us to know he’s likely not blossoming into an everyday catcher. It could happen, but I don’t think the Mets will ever give him that opportunity anyway.

So, if they do go with Nido and have regrets later on, it’s just the way things will be.

I like the idea of Nido as the backup with a veteran lurking down in Triple-A in case of an emergency. I’m curious to see what he could do with more at-bats. Was his limited 2020 performance a mirage or does this young man have a bat that can survive Major League Baseball?

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?