Francisco Alvarez is the biggest benefactor from unique NY Mets free agent signing

Francisco Alvarez goes into the 2026 season with some pressure on his shoulders. Last year’s demotion seems to have gotten the best out of him. He went to the minors hitting .236/.319/.333 with 3 home runs in 138 plate appearances. Upon his return, he had 139 more plate appearances and hit .276/.360/.561 with 8 home runs. It couldn’t have been more perfectly planned to truly understand how much better he was after his stint in Syracuse.

Alvarez wasn’t just sent to the minors for his offensive slump to start the year. Questions about his defensive abilities lingered. Upon his recall, he seemed new and improved there. Sustaining a full season of hitting well and playing good defense will be key.

But what if it doesn’t go as planned? If it’s the defense that lacks and the offense continues to crush, the latest Mets free agent signing can help give Alvarez added playing time because of how unique it is.

There’s a timeline where Francisco Alvarez becomes a regular DH thanks to MJ Melendez

MJ Melendez will join the Mets on a split contract, paying him $1.5 million during the time he’s in the majors with another $500K in incentives. The split part of the deal is more favorable for the payroll than anything else as his remaining minor league option already helps to keep him around for an extended period of time without having to pass through waivers at any point unless the Mets want to.

He’s not the first player on a split contract signed this offseason. Richard Lovelady and later Cooper Criswell, who was picked up on waivers, both came and went from the organization after getting DFA’d. Could the Mets do the same thing with Melendez? We shouldn’t rule it out.

If not, Melendez gives the Mets added reason to push Alvarez into regular plate appearances as a DH. They’ve done it before with only two catchers on the roster, but you want to limit those in case of an injury. Melendez’s history as a catcher to start his career, now a corner outfielder and maybe first base option as well, helps explain some of the value he brings.

Carrying three catchers on your roster is quite preposterous. What if that third catcher is a guy like Melendez? He’d only finish a game behind the plate in most scenarios.

Then there’s a common one all teams will experience. Whether it’s Alvarez or Luis Torrens, one will get battered enough to need some rest, but maybe not so badly where an IL stint is required. What do you do? Carrying Hayden Senger or adding Austin Barnes to your 40-man roster for a couple of days limits your roster. Melendez is a bat-first player whose best button to push is “emergency catcher.”

A signing overshadowed by a football game hours later, Melendez is the kind of guy who adds a special kind of roster flexibility. Even if he’s not playing incredibly well in the minors, you know you can trust him to at least look competent against big league pitching on a limited basis. He’s someone you don’t need to do much other than sit on the bench and let the team breath knowing a foul tip off of Torrens’ bare hand on a day when Alvarez is DH’ing won’t require the club to forfeit their DH for the remainder of the game.

Melendez still seems like a longshot to actually make the Mets roster. More regular time for Alvarez to DH might even be a reach as long as Mark Vientos remains on the roster. Melendez just gives the Mets the unique ability to kind of carry three catchers and keep Alvarez in the lineup while using the better defense of Torrens behind the plate.

Preparedness has been a key component of the Mets offseason. The club has this emergency catching plan well-thought out.