The Backup Catcher Conundrum

[Frayed Knot]

So Gary just talked about the plan going forward for Alvarez:
Thursday: DH in Brooklyn
Friday: catch for Syracuse
Saturday: catch for Syracuse
Sunday: DH for Syracuse
Off day Monday and then with the Mets starting Tuesday assuming all the above goes well.

So that leaves the backup job to one of Nido / Torrens


In the midst of a two HR (and counting?) game and some nifty throwing lately it's easy to go with Torrens, SSS be damned.
But there's also a reason why he's amassed less than 1-1/2 seasons worth of ABs across pieces of seven seasons -- almost
half of them in one year (2021 w/SEA) -- with a career OPS+ of 80
On the other hand, he's two years younger than Nido (28 vs 30) and will likely have one season more of team control (two
vs one). Plus that 80 OPS+ looks positively robust compared to Nido's career 57
And then you've got the Mendoza factor which likely bends in the new guy's favor.

So maybe not much of a conundrum, even with Nido hitting reasonably well lately.

[Edgy MD]

Nido has gotten through waivers once, for whatever that's worth.

I imagine that they are shopping both guys aggressively right now.

[Frayed Knot]

Not sure how aggressively you can shop either one.

[Edgy MD]

You shouldn't underestimate me. I can shop like a fiend.

[metirish]

Nido has been around since 2017 , a survivor, I expect he will be around

[bmfc1]

Torrens provides some roster flexibility as he has played 1B, 2B, 3B, and LF while Nido is only a C.

[MFS62]

Torrens provides some roster flexibility as he has played 1B, 2B, 3B, and LF while Nido is only a C.

And has pitched, too. He has a win.
Later

[Fman99]

Torrens has been making his case this week. We all know who Tomas Nido is at this point. I say keep the new guy.

[Lefty Specialist]

Torrens has been making his case this week. We all know who Tomas Nido is at this point. I say keep the new guy.

I think this conversation ended today.

[metirish]

Yes ,and before the game in a sate of the season presser Cohen talked him up

[metirish]

Puma with some good info

[batmagadanleadoff]

Torrens is also Mendoza's guy from their Yankee days, for whatever that's worrh.

[metirish]

I guess we are about to find out

[metirish]

For prosperity sake ( it's in the DFA thread)

[metirish]

Man, all the best to Tomás

[G-Fafif]

Nido seeding the ground for his Memories thread.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I wouldn't be too surprised if he landed in Syracuse after all. But if not, good luck to him. As far as backup catchers go in this current era, I suspect he wasn't half bad.

[metirish]

Nido released

[Cowtipper]

Nido released

He spent 13 years in their system!

[ashie62]

Future coach

[Edgy MD]

I imagine he triggered the release, as his salary was guaranteed even if he refused a minor-league assignment.

[metirish]

SnY reports Nido heading to the Cubs

[Frayed Knot]

SnY reports Nido heading to the Cubs

As are the Mets after tonight's game.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Cubs DFA Yan Gomes so I guess Nido is headed straight to Wrigleyville

[Frayed Knot]

A bit odd in that both Nido and Narvaez got their walking papers shortly after delivering some big hits,
but there weren't a lot of signs for either that that level of play was going to be sustained.