Nov. 20: In addition to the Mets, Chirinos has also received interest from the Astros, the Reds and the Rangers, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand tweets. A deal with either Texas-based club would of course represent a reunion scenario, whereas the Reds would be the veteran backstop’s fourth MLB club (and third in the past eight seasons). Both the Astros and Rangers are thin in terms of MLB catching depth. The Reds have Tucker Barnhart signed through 2021 (plus a 2022 option) and Curt Casali on hand as a backup, though there’s certainly room for an upgrade — particularly an offensive upgrade — in Cincinnati.
Nov. 19: The Mets have reached out to veteran catcher Robinson Chirinos in the early stages of the offseason, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports. They’ve also been in contact with well-traveled backup catcher Drew Butera.
New York already has one well-paid catcher on the roster in Wilson Ramos, who is owed $10.75MM through the end of the 2020 season (including a $1.5MM buyout on a $10MM club option for the 2021 season). General manger Brodie Van Wagenen has previously indicated he’s in the market for a backup catcher, but Chirinos profiles as more as a starter than a reserve. The 35-year-old hit .238/.347/.443 with 17 homers, 22 doubles and a triple in 114 games (437 plate appearances) with the Astros in 2019 and logged 113 games with the Rangers in 2018.
Barring a move involving Ramos, it could be hard to entice the 35-year-old Chirinos to sign on for what would surely be reduced playing time, and he’ll likely command interest from other clubs looking to feature him in a larger role than the Mets can offer. Plus, if the Mets are interested in him as a backup — even one who plays a bit more than a traditional second catcher — it seems unlikely that they’d offer more than last year’s $5.75MM salary. New York’s interest isn’t necessarily a surprise, though, given Chirinos’ quality results in 2019 and, to a lesser extent, the fact that he and newly hired skipper Carlos Beltran were brief teammates with the Rangers in 2016.
Chirinos performed well on the whole in Houston and caught every single inning thrown by Justin Verlander in 2019, so there’s certainly reason for the Astros, who have minimal catching depth, to pursue a reunion. The Braves, Brewers, Reds, Angels, Pirates and Rockies are among the many teams that could look at adding some help behind the plate this winter, too, so there should be interest elsewhere.
As for Butera, he’s a candidate to receive a minor league deal and an invite to Spring Training either from the Mets or another club. The 36-year-old wouldn’t be a clear upgrade over currently projected backup Tomas Nido, as Butera has batted just .203/.268/.301 in 408 plate appearances between the Royals and Rockies dating back to the 2017 season. Butera doesn’t have a strong statistical profile in terms of his glovework, either, though he carries a reputation as a backup who works well with pitchers.
Robinson will draw interest from somewhere else. Somewhere else that can assure him a full time role. Still surprised Texas let him go.
I was suprised when the rangers let him go too, and after he was let off, the rangers fell to 29th in catching production…. sooo….
I’ve never understood why fans, and announcers were always down on Chirinos. I always thought he was more than solid with Texas. If they wanted to go young I would understand, but the guys they brought in to replace him were a joke. Especially at the AAV they got.
Can’t agree more, Mathis is a single A player at the plate, but Jose Trevino will have a great career. Trevino has been a hero each time texas has called him up, and would be a great back-up or even starting catcher.
Butera was traded by the Mets for Luis Castillo back in the day.
Mets legend Luis Castillo
Always enjoyed watching Castillo play! Even though I’m a Braves fan, the dude was in the same division, so I got to see him a lot. It was always fun
The Yankees loved watching him play, too.
I remember the 2000 Mets loved watching the Yankees play.
Maybe get butera and keep ramos, or get chirinos and then trade ramos and smith for teoscar hernandez, ryan borucki, and a mid-low tier prospect from the blue jays.
I don’t see the need from the Jays unless they trade Jansen or McGuire. Their production last year on both side of the plate were promising and did not show any immediate need for improvement. However that would be a reasonable trade cost if they are ok paying Ramos 10 mil/yr to mentor the young core for the next 2 years.
This makes no sense at all. Jays are completely stacked with young catching and have no need at all for Ramos. They need young pitching and trading Boruki accomplishes the opposite of that.
Agreed. Toronto would be about the last AL team that’d make sense. Maybe some kind of deal with Houston, involving Marisnick?
Had a little thought for the Braves to go after him though his glove makes me think that isnt the best idea. Still, Chirinos would be an all around improvement to Tyler “Passed Ball” Flowers.
Can’t imagine the Mets would trade Ramos to the Braves. They wouldnt want to be responsible for upgrading the Braves catcher position while they are competing with them unless Anthopoulos temporarily loses his mind and offers a stupid trade package.
But with the Braves almost throwing money at the bullpen, does this indicate the Braves are going to spend in other areas too and maybe make a run at Grandal? Damn you Braves FO! I am starting feel a since of hope. I..I’m just not ready to be touched. ='(
It almost sounds like the Mets view Ramos as more of a liability than an asset, so they might well trade him to the Braves for a fairly minimal return. Not sure I agree with their assessment of his value myself, but it seems to be how they are leaning.
The Mets have another issue with Ramos. Syndagaard hates pitching to him. They insisted on playing Ramos no matter how much Syndagaard protested so I don’t know that they undervalue him and would trade him to the Braves cheap.
Does he come complete with a banging garbage can?
*Accessories sold separately
Why is Drew Butera nicknamed
“The Don?”
Dunno, why is Felipe Vazquez nicknamed “Nightmare”?
Sometimes a name just fits.
Jason Castro.
How do y’all think the astros scandal will affect their FA players value? Steve, if you want to reply please do, i’d like to have an in depth conversation about this.
I came to post the same question. Knowing a fastball is coming means you can swing harder, which plays into the era of the home run.
Chirinos has a career BA of .234
Last year he hit .273 at home
Mets should expect that to drop
It’s difficult to speculate without knowing all the facts. I’d imagine this whole pitch tipping scheme is not limited to only the Astros. If MLB does obtain real evidence, any party involved should get heavily penalized including players. It’s too bad because I really do want a fair game after the whole PED fiasco. That’s my two cents.
“any party involved”
That would include the manager, every coach, every player. They all were in on it. Everyone who spent any time in that dugout. Every Astro could hear the banging garbage can all game long. No way anyone didn’t know.
Also, the PED fiasco is not over. A handful of guys each year does not represent the scale of the thing. That handful of guys would not be doing PEDs if they were highly likely to get caught. They would be doing it because they are highly unlikely to get caught. Because lots of guys are doing it and not getting caught. No other description of the situation else bears scrutiny. The testing system is still estremely porous, it is still extremely subject to being gamed. The PEDs fiasco is not over.
Why not have 2 Cafchers that are liabilities behind the plate?
I don’t see Chirinos taking a back up role and the Mets need someone who is great defensively behing the plate like Maldonado
The Mets should ship Ramos to an AL team and sign both Chirinos and Austin Romine. Money should even out. Romine has moonlighted at 1B and can Pete Alonso a day off when needed.
Is there any possibility that their interest is primarily because of the similarity in name with a certain Robinson Cano (he of the big contract and puny stats) that can confuse the paying public. Inquiring minds want to know.
Seriously?
The only possible explanation for the Mets’ decisions is usually that the team is trying to find creative ways to burn money. Return on the dollar is never a consideration. Teams looking for value don’t give a 35-year-old Jed Lowrie 2 years and $20 million. They just spend freely to whoever will sign the contracts.
Lol could be yup Seattle saw the Mets comin on that deal talk about gettin hosed and now the worthles closer could get a raise just unreal
Is anyone else trippin off how terrible Josh Reddick must be? To think he knew when to sit on a fastball, and still couldn’t hit for sht. What happened to him?
Maybe he didn’t play along with cheating and spent the time the pitch took to get from mound to plate trying to convince himself he didn’t know what was close coming.
What is he, deaf?
But did he get many fastballs? Predictably, if a player is always hitting fastballs then teams stop pitching fastballs. Also, if there is a hole in his swing knowing what’s coming won’t fix that.
Give Butera a minor league deal, Trade Ramos to an AL team (think TEX) and ask CHC about W. Contreras.. pass on Chirinos. Nido is depth.
They would also lead all of baseball in players with the first name “Robinson.” Much like the Twins locking down the lead in players named “Marwin.”
If you’re never going to give Nido a chance…why not just see what you could get in a trade?
Nido has had three years of “chances” to show what he can do at the MLB level, and the soon-to-be 26 year old has produced an OPS+ of 39. If he had been given a full, uninterrupted year of AAA experience perhaps he wouldn’t now be so regularly overmatched at the plate. But he didn’t get that exposure, and now we have a solid defender who has shown no evidence whatsoever of ever becoming a competent hitter. Who could the Mets possibly expect to get back in a trade?
He wont sign with the Mets just more smoke by the Mets to try and make their fans think they will sign someone
Why are comments closed on Felipe Vazquez articles? Since he’s a fiddler, we’re not allowed to post about it?
Lol could be yup Seattle saw the Mets comin on that deal talk about gettin hosed and now the worthless closer could get a raise just unreal
Mets trade Stroman and Ramos to LAD for W.Smith and Pederson, this solves C & CF.
Trade D.Smith and a minor leaguer to Detroit they need a 1b for Boyd.
Sign Porcello and 2-3 relief p’s..
Mets rotation: deGrom,Syn,Boyd,Porcello and Matz.
Dominic Smith for Matt Boyd won’t get that deal done.
That hysterical moment when idiotic Mets fans come up with trade scenarios that the other team would never in the right mind except. If you think the Dodgers are going to trade will smith I want whatever you’re smoking. You are expecting the Dodgers to give up to a type talents and in return will get to see type talent? This is the problem with you Mets fans you want something for nothing.
To be honest it’s not just Mets fans it’s most of us when we get caught up being Homers.
Porcello will be a Met in 2020.
Catching market is thin and moving slow. AL teams like Rangers and Astros need catching so The Mets should be shopping Ramos. Move Ramos and upgrade with a more sound defensive catcher that isn’t a total dud with the bat.
Mets fans what do we think?
If Nutting is being genuine with his latest statements then the Pirates should be very aggressive. They do not have a catcher in the organization who is worthy of starting on a regular basis.
Rangers should pounce on a trade for ramos, and this would be the trade. Eat all of ramos’s money, and then send over CD pelham (a mid level relieve prospect in AA).
That would take 10 million out of the rangers 40 million dollar budget, and he is right handed. Then you trade for dominic smith, sign moustakas and wheeler, and then also sign an underrated cory gearrin.
Let the mets have chirinos.
Ramos isn’t just a salary dump although he’s not a good fit for the current Mets. I think they would prefer a better prospect in exchange for cash sent as well.
Lando system?
Lando’s not a system. He’s a man. Lando Calrissian. He’s a card player, gambler, scoundrel. You’d like him.
So thinking outside the box….why not bring back FA Travis D’arnaud? He had a relatively successful bounce back year, knows the team schemes and players, and seemed to have a good rapport with everyone in the organization. He will likely never post numbers expected of him, but as a backup with an opportunity to improve going forward what’s to lose? He’s not going to command premium FA pay and can likely be had at similar contract values as others the Mets are targeting.