NY Mets have an added reason to keep Francisco Alvarez in the minors through Saturday

There was a time when an early extension was a real thought for Francisco Alvarez. Remember all of the rumors, speculation, and calculation into what it would cost to lock him up long-term? It wouldn’t make him a member of the New York Mets for life, but would delay his free agency.

It’s a good thing David Stearns or Billy Eppler before him never rushed into any commitment. Alvarez had a down year in 2024 and saw an even greater drop off in production this season. At the time of his demotion, Alvarez carried a .236/.319/.333 slash line with him to Syracuse. The biggest disappointment of all was his lack of power, knocking 3 doubles and just as many home runs in 138 plate appearances.

This is a guy who, as a rookie, clobbered 25 home runs albeit with a .209/.284/.437 slash line. His abilities as a hitter centered on his power. His defense was praised early on, but became a concern this season. It aided in the decision to send him down to the minor leagues to work on things. As Will Sammon of The Athletic wrote, the Mets may have some incentive to keep him in the minor leagues for a few more days.

The Mets gain a year of control for Francisco Alvarez if they keep him in the minor leagues through Saturday

Alvarez was headed toward becoming a free agent after the 2028 season, but his recent demotion pushes that back a year as long as he’s in the minors through Saturday. It would be unnecessary to recall him for one series to finish out the first half of the year. Immediately out of the break would be the more logical time.

Since the demotion, Alvarez has hit well but maybe not to the extent the Mets would have liked to see. He’s hitting .304/.360/.565 with a pair of home runs in 25 July plate appearances. It’s a small sample and not nearly enough to justify a quick recall especially with this revelation about his future.

Even if Alvarez becomes a player the Mets don’t view as their long-term catcher, having the availability to hold onto him for another year is a powerful sword to wield. He’d be arbitration-eligible that year but also a non-tender candidate if the worst-case scenario comes to life.

No Mets player better represents the frustration of fans about the organization’s lack of growth with its young players. Mark Vientos’ struggles this year are disappointing, but his 2024 campaign was still better than anything Alvarez achieved at the major league level. He was never the top prospect in all of baseball either, a title Alvarez held at one point.