CATCH AS CATCH CAN’T
HEAT ON d’ARNAUD TO SAVE METS CAREER AS TRADE DEADLINE NEARS
SANDY Alderson thought he solved the Mets catching woes when he traded for Travis d’Arnaud back in the winter of 2012. D’Arnaud, at the time, was the centerpiece of the trade with Toronto that also brought Noah Syndergaard to the club.
He was rated the 11th best prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com. The Mets truly believed that a huge piece of the puzzle had been solved.
Here we are five years later and d’Arnaud still has not found his groove as the Mets catcher. This remains the key position that is up in the air for a team trying to survive after so many injuries.
This was to be a make-or-break season for d’Arnaud. So far he is not making it.
This is a make-or-break month for d’Arnaud. His Mets’ future hangs in the balance.
This next month heading into the trade deadline is so important for so many Mets, but for d’Arnaud it’s doubly important.
Suddenly, Rene Rivera is the Mets hottest catcher. His two home runs propelled the Mets to an 8-2 win over the Giants on Sunday and a sweep of the three-game series. The Mets begin a three-game series with the Marlins in Miami on Tuesday night and then have three at home against the pathetic Phillies.
So the heat really is on d’Arnaud now in South Florida. The Mets must have a strong series here and d’Arnaud has to begin to turn it around.
These six games could get the 34-41 underachieving Mets back near .500, but it has to happen quickly for the Mets or this season is a washout and Alderson will sell off some walkyear pieces. If d’Arnaud doesn’t pick it up, a new young catching prospect could be making his way to the Mets through a trade, and d’Arnaud will be on the outside looking in.
There’s also the upcoming freeagent market and Jonathon Lucroy, a Mets target last season at the trade deadline, could be signed, giving the Mets a veteran catcher to guide this injury-plagued pitching staff.
D’Arnaud continues to struggle throwing out runners.
Last season d’Arnaud threw out 22 percent (17-of-78) of runners attempting to steal. This year the Mets brought in highly regarded coach Glenn Sherlock to work with d’Arnaud. So far, the numbers are actually worse — with d’Arnaud only nailing 15 percent (4-of-26) of runners who attempted to steal.
To be fair, that is not entirely d’Arnaud’s fault. In Steven Matz’ last start, the left-hander did not do a good job holding runners on as they got a huge head start. D’Arnaud had no shot.
The Mets insist there has been progress in the throwing department and d’Arnaud remains a work in progress, but the progress has to start now. He is 28 years old, the prime of his career. This is a time he should be thriving at the plate and behind the plate.
For the season he is batting a dismal .218 with a .282 on-base percentage and a .444 slugging percentage over 46 games and 142 at-bats. Last season d’Arnaud hit .247 with a .307 on-base and a lowly .323 slugging percentage over 75 games and only 251 at-bats.
Over the last 10 games, d’Arnaud is batting .182, with a .229 on-base percentage and .303 slugging percentage with nine strikeouts and only one home run over 33 at-bats.
Injuries have hampered him again this season, as they have for most of his career.
D’Arnaud has to prove that he can be more durable. He has to show he can be a No. 1 catcher, something that he has yet to do. In the 2015 postseason he showed promise, hitting three home runs.
Not just runners, but running out of time is his problem now.