Amazin’s looking for backstop depth
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets have evaluated several catchers in camp this spring, but aren’t necessarily comfortable with their depth at the position.
That has left team officials on the lookout for a veteran who could at the very least slot into the No. 3 spot on the depth chart (at the minor league level), if not unseat Tomas Nido as the backup.
One name that has been discussed is free agent Tyler Flowers, who spent the past five seasons with the Braves. The 35-year-old Flowers appeared in 22 games last season and had a slash line of .217/.325/ .348 with one homer and five RBIs. He settled into a full backup role with the Braves following Travis d’Arnaud’s emergence last year.
The Mets signed James McCann to a four-year contract worth $40.6 million in the offseason, solidifying the position. But there is concern about the organizational depth if McCann has to miss extended action because of injury. Though Nido has been solid in stretches as a backup, the Mets might be more comfortable with a veteran such as Flowers handling the bulk of catching duties if such a need were to arise.
Behind Nido, the Mets have Caleb Joseph, Bruce Maxwell and Patrick Mazeika, among others. The organization’s top prospect, catcher Francisco Alvarez, is only 19 years old and has played 42 minor league games in his career.
Nido was off to a sluggish start offensively this spring before going 3-for-3 with a homer against the Cardinals in Friday’s exhibition game at Clover Park. The fact Nido doesn’t have minor league options remaining could make it a tough call to bring in another catcher that would unseat him as the backup. Nido missed most of last season after testing positive for COVID-19.
If the Mets rule out Flowers, they could look to catchers in other camps with opt-outs in their minor league contracts.
➤ Francisco Lindor smashed a grand slam in the fourth inning to lead the Mets to an 8-5 victory over the Cardinals. The homer was Lindor’s second in three games after he previously had gone without one in the exhibition season. Both were hit batting lefthanded.
Three times in his career, Lindor has topped 30 homers, as part of his complete package at shortstop.
“I don’t think it’s something that he’s looking to do,” manager Luis Rojas said. “I just think it’s something he’s grown into in his young career. That’s a result of him just being a little stronger, and the repetitions that he’s taken in his career being able to impact the ball like that.”
➤ Dominic Smith said he expects a return to the lineup “in the next couple of days” as he deals with right wrist discomfort. Smith said he rolled the wrist on a check swing earlier this week.
➤ The Mets reassigned Yennsy Diaz, Mazeika and Daniel Zamora to Triple-A camp. In addition, Johneshwy Fargas, Jake Hager, David Rodriguez and Wilfredo Tovar were reassigned.