Why the NY Mets may have added a career .189 hitter in the minor leagues

The thought that maybe the New York Mets could add at this trade deadline with a big deal for Reid Detmers or someone else was definitely on the minds of fans. Thus far, there hasn’t been any movement on that front and we should probably wash off those expectations. The Mets simply don’t have much at all in the farm that would be good enough even with the newest additions brought in.

While focus was more heavily on the major league trades, the team made a quieter move on Monday. Joey Gerber, a former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher (who helped confirm the theory that not everyone coming from their system is a gem) was DFA’d. To replace him, the Mets added catcher Shawn Ross formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

With a 32% caught stealing percentage, we can begin to understand why the Mets liked Ross. The fact that he was on waivers is enough to alert us he probably isn’t all that good. It didn’t take Anthony DiComo much digging to find the one statistic that’ll have you quickly forgetting all about this one.

Shawn Ross makes fellow Mets catcher Hayden Senger look like Johnny Bench, so why add him?

Why even make this move when Ross can’t hit his way out of a paper bag? One reason could be they want to use Francisco Alvarez more regularly at the DH spot. It’s wide open. Jorge Polanco isn’t earning those at-bats.

Carrying three catchers, if for nothing more than to test out the thinking, wouldn’t be so bad for a Mets team playing for nothing in the standings. They’ve shown a distinct preference for Luis Torrens behind the plate over Alvarez. Now would be a time to “experiment” with some added catching depth within the organization.

Ross was required to get added to the 40-man roster which makes him as much a candidate to get called up as Senger if they did have three catchers at any point. Clearly not someone destined to get too many big league at-bats, if any, what this addition doesn’t hint at is the Mets trading either of their current big league backstops.

Senger has, coincidentally, hit only .196 this year in Triple-A. His .172 batting average in the majors during limited action has set a low bar. He’ll turn 30 in April 2027. Ross should be viewed as an alternative, potentially even one who ends up on the waiver wire soon. He has all of his remaining minor league options left while Senger goes into next year with just one. 

A mostly inconsequential move, it further showed the Mets’ preference for defense behind the dish.

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