4 players Omar Narvaez could replace on the roster when he returns from the IL

Mar 30, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets catcher Omar Narvaez (2) hits a single during the
Mar 30, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets catcher Omar Narvaez (2) hits a single during the / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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New York Mets catcher Omar Narvaez is expected to return from the IL in the coming days. He has been sidelined for practically the entire year. When he comes back, the Mets roster could be shaken up in a big way.

There are many directions the Mets can go to clear a spot for Narvaez and it’ll be discussed heavily with each of these four candidates he could replace on the roster.

1) Omar Narvaez could replace Tomas Nido on the NY Mets roster

Replacing one catcher for the other is the most obvious choice for a team. Not so much the Mets. Tomas Nido, a guy definitely on the roster bubble, already has an extension through next season and has been a darling of the front office and many of the club’s pitchers. A weak start to the season and now the weaker of the two backstops currently healthy and on the roster, he’d be everyone’s favorite choice to depart if the team wants to continue carrying only two catchers.

Nido’s lack of minor league options would make him a DFA candidate. Do the Mets risk letting another ball club claim him off waivers? Anyone in need of a quality backup could definitely use him. However, there is no certainty of it. The chance of Nido slipping past the other 29 teams and accepting a minor league assignment does exist.

It does seem like the end for Nido in a Mets uniform could be approaching even if it’s not this week with Narvaez’s return. He’s not the catcher of the future for the ball club. And with Narvaez owning a player option for next season, he could always return.

Aside from Nido, the Mets do have one other catcher they could move off the roster to make room for Narvaez. You’re not going to like it.

2) Omar Narvaez could replace Francisco Alvarez on the NY Mets roster

What a stinker of a move this could be. Get rid of one of your more productive hitters for a veteran? Pish posh.

The Mets do have the luxury of being able to send Francisco Alvarez to the minors and not risk losing any of their players by doing this. That’s the lone reason why they possibly would even consider it. This would be the type of move to make if they’re reluctant to carry three catchers and desperately want to keep Nido for a little while longer.

Justifying the demotion of Alvarez is impossible at this point. He has done everything right in the big leagues. Ringing endorsements from Max Scherzer and other Mets pitchers should give us enough assurance that if there’s one player Narvaez won’t be replacing, it’s Alvarez.

So, if Narvaez isn’t replacing Nido or Alvarez it means they’re going to carry three catchers. This is quite a predicament for any ball club. You need a roster around those three catchers capable of having more than one skill available. Defensive versatility is a must.

With that in mind, two current Mets could be casualties to make room for Narvaez. The debate is very similar to the one between Nido and Alvarez. Let’s start with the one you’d be angrier about.

3) Omar Narvaez could replace Mark Vientos on the NY Mets roster

I told you you’d be angry. Maybe not furious. Narvaez coming back from the IL and replacing Mark Vientos on the roster isn’t egregious. It definitely feels like a temporary move. There is some lack of logic to it. Who would then become the right-handed DH for the Mets?

Against lefties, the Mets could always start Alvarez as the DH and let Nido occasionally catch. The sudden burst of production from Eduardo Escobar should put him in the conversation. There’s nothing wrong with letting any of the regulars take a night off from the field in order to keep their bats in the lineup.

What I don’t like about this is how much of a waste Vientos’ time on the roster will have been if they demote him. Used a little too sparingly since his promotion, it seems like many around him have performed much better since the call-up while he hasn’t found his groove. He has been getting a few starts as the DH against right-handed starting pitchers of late which can be spun in two directions.

Vientos fans hopeful he remains on the roster and isn’t replaced by Narvaez could see this as the Mets giving a valid chance to stick around. More pessimistic Mets fans—those are easier to find—could see it as a final act to see him struggle and have a reason to demote him.

Meanwhile, the same exact proposal could be explained for our final player on this list.

4) Omar Narvaez could replace Daniel Vogelbach on the NY Mets roster

Everything about Vientos can be stated about Daniel Vogelbach with a little more of a personal touch. Change the word “righty” to “lefty” and vice versa. Let’s call it a day.

Vogelbach’s reduced playing time is a sign of something. He isn’t getting every start against right-handed starters and for good reason. He isn’t performing well enough to deserve those opportunities.

Picking between Vientos and Vogelbach comes down to whether or not the Mets believe the former is ready for more playing time and the latter is cooked. As much of a non-fan of Vogelbach as many of us may be, Vientos hasn’t done enough. Vogelbach is an imperfect fit for the Mets because of the first baseman’s mitt he forgot to bring with him when he was first traded here from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yes, he probably did buy a new one. We haven’t seen it yet.

Vientos is a much better player to have on the roster in theory when your ball club is carrying three catchers. This would be the case if they were to DFA Vogelbach. Three catchers plus Vogelbach seems much less appealing. Narvaez would essentially take on the role of left-handed DH which then leaves Vogelbach practically useless. Some argue he already is.

Sending either of the kids down is simple yet the least effective move for the Mets to make. June has arrived. The trade deadline is less than two months away but some desperate teams could already be on the lookout to replace injured or underperforming players. Could Nido or Vogelbach actually become an early summer trade piece? Now is the time when the Mets would get the least for them. It’s also better than receiving nothing at all.

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