Temperature on NY Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez's defense isn't roasting anything

It is remarkable how a season can nudge a storyline into a place no one expected, especially for the New York Mets. Francisco Alvarez once looked like the rare young catcher who could anchor a staff with the calm of a veteran and the confidence of someone who already understood how to control a game. His glove felt like the safest part of the roster.

Then this past season arrived and turned that idea on its head. Instead of adding another layer to his defensive reputation, Alvarez watched a noticeable drop in the receiving skills that once made him stand out. The Mets never figured they would be asking questions behind the plate, yet here they are preparing for 2026 with an unexpected defensive challenge for a player who had built early trust behind the plate.

The Mets have watched key defensive numbers drop for Francisco Alvarez over two seasons

Alvarez did not ease his way into the league. He arrived looking like a catcher who already understood the job, pounding baseballs into the seats while managing pitchers with a composure rare for someone his age. His framing ranked in the top 3% of all MLB catchers, his pop time landed in the top third, and the early picture suggested the Mets had finally stabilized a position that had dodged them for years.

Fielding Run Value confirmed what the eyes were seeing. The stat works like the defensive counterpart to OPS+, rolling framing, blocking, and throwing into one number that shows how many runs a catcher saves or costs the team compared to an average defender. Alvarez posted a +12 in his first season, 4th best among 74 catchers (minimum of 150 behind the plate). It looked like the opening chapter of a long stay near the top of the position.

Then the decline behind the plate set in. His FRV dropped to +2 in 2024 and fell to -6 in 2025, ranking him 63rd out of 72 qualifiers. The supporting numbers painted the same picture. His blocks above average dipped into the bottom 11% of MLB, and his framing slid into the bottom 16%. The quiet defensive edges he once created so naturally were no longer stacking up, and innings that used to tilt his way began moving in the other direction.

That downturn eventually led to a midseason demotion, driven by struggles on both sides of the ball. Triple A became the place to rebuild the details, with the now Mets' catching coach, JP Arencibia, who reset the timing and receiving habits that had slipped. When Alvarez returned, he showed real improvement, enough to hint at the defender he could be again.

Alvarez is still young enough to rewrite the defensive chapter that slipped out of his hands. The tools never disappeared. They just need sharpening. If he steadies the glove in 2026, the Mets get more than a rebound. They get the catcher they thought they were building around from the start.