Mesoraco-deGrom connection key to catcher’s return

PORT ST. LUCIE – After the Mets signed catcher Wilson Ramos in December, former All-Star Devin Mesoraco looked like a spare part.

Mesoraco was granted free agency at the end of October last year. After months of speculation on a possible end to his short stint with the Mets, they signed the catcher to a minor-league contract at the beginning of February for one reason: Jacob deGrom.

Mesoraco caught 21 of deGrom's 32 games in his Cy Young year.

On top of that, the battery built a special relationship last season. Though Mesoraco is expected to start the year in the minors, he serves as the team's perfect backup plan in the event Ramos or Travis d'Arnaud sustain even the smallest of injuries.

“I think that me and Jake developed a great relationship last year,” Mesoraco said. “It wasn't a difficult thing to work on. Really, I did what I would do for anybody else and he took to that well.”

Ramos is a Silver Slugger with two All-Star nods. Barring any significant health issues in the next six weeks, he's expected to be the Mets' Opening Day backstop. D'Arnaud is recovering from the season-ending Tommy John surgery he suffered in April of last year. He will likely be the backup catcher in 2019.

The Mets are unlikely to carry three catchers on their 25-man roster and, as it stands, their battery requirements are fulfilled. But the 31-year-old Ramos is injury-prone and d'Arnaud is coming off surgery.

It's no secret the Mets enter the year with every intention to be involved in postseason contention. If they want to keep their catchers healthy and stretch them until October, it's a good idea to have Mesoraco getting reps in the minors with sporadic opportunities to play on the big stage.

The 30-year-old backstop came to Flushing in last season's Matt Harvey trade and stepped up during a familiar moment of disintegration.

“He made us a better team last year,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said on Thursday. “He came in, he was prepared every single day, that rubbed off on all of our catchers. That rubbed off on our pitchers. They trusted him because of those things, and he's a leader. It showed behind the plate.”

Mesoraco hit .221/.303/.398 last year, with 24 runs, 10 doubles, 11 home runs, 33 RBI and 25 walks across 84 games.