The Mets announced that catcher James McCann has a hamate fracture in his left hand (via Bob Nightengale of USA Today). He’ll undergo surgery and miss around six weeks. Patrick Mazeika has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse in his place.
McCann has gotten off to a rough start, the second season of a four-year free agent contract he signed during the 2020-21 offseason. Through 21 games, the right-handed hitting backstop owns a .196/.266/.286 slash line. That’s a continuation of the .232/.294/.349 struggles he experienced during his first season in Queens, as McCann hasn’t managed to replicate the above-average form he showed for the White Sox in 2019-20.
Nevertheless, McCann has started 18 of New York’s first 33 games behind the dish. The veteran backstop is highly regarded for his work handling a pitching staff, and the Mets have gotten excellent results on the mound en route to their 22-11 start. While he’s out, New York will down to the light-hitting catching tandem of Tomás Nido and Mazeika.
It’s possible New York explores the catching market midseason. Even heading into the season, the Mets’ catching situation looked like a possible area for upgrade for a club hellbent on winning this season. McCann’s early offensive struggles and injury would only seem to increase the likelihood of an eventual external pickup. Willson Contreras and Christian Vázquez are among the impending free agent backstops who could be dealt by the end of July.
Acquiring a rental could allow New York to upgrade their catching corps for the stretch run without impeding the eventual path for top prospect Francisco Álvarez. One of the sport’s most talented prospects, Álvarez is viewed by many as the organization’s catcher of the future. At just 20 years old with only 24 games of Double-A experience under his belt, he probably won’t be a factor in the majors this year.
BigFootsFart
Alvarez Time please
davidk1979
Not ready yet likely next year.
BigFootsFart
Idk his bat looks ready. You’re right. Defensively, next year
davidk1979
He’s struggled in AS with the bat too
You Can Put It In The Books
It’s a good thing they have Alvarez waiting in the wings. I said the other day he’d be up this year. I didn’t mean I wanted James to get hurt. This is a tough one for the pitching staff.
bklynny67
Zero chance Alvarez is up this year, plus he’s been slumping big time lately in AA
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
McCann McCann’t
DaOldDerbyBastard
That’s the hardest I’ve laughed today. Thanks Curly.
Chris G.
Alvarez is absolutely not ready. He needs a lot of work on defense, framing and game-calling. He did get off to a hot start with his bat but he’s been slumping bad and his average is all the way down to .213 now.
LFGMets (Metsin7)
The Mets are virtually getting nothing at the catcher position right now. With Mcann out when he finally found his stroke, this is even worse. I know Alvarez has been slumping in double a but I think its time hes called up with how bad the catching has been hitting. He can’t possibly do any worse
Bill M
Mazeika is the right choice for now
foppert
I think MLB is getting nothing from the catcher position right now.
DaOldDerbyBastard
He can lose confidence. That could ruin our best prospect.
DanielDannyDano
Was this an in game injury?
davidk1979
Yes
davidk1979
Rather see Meyer rather than Mazieka
itsallbravesnation
Agreed, but they’d have to clear a 40 man spot for him.
davidk1979
Dump Max
Crunchtime1969
Who was the last, great Mets catcher? Carter or Piazza?
BigFootsFart
Piazza
dadofdonnydownvote
Carter
davidk1979
Piazza is the greatest hitting catcher ever get a brain!
itsallbravesnation
Mackey
FullMontilla
I’ll go with home grown, Hundley
Kevin Michael Farrell
I’m a Hundley Guy too! Piazza will always be a Dodger in my eyes, The Mets screwed Todd! I also love TdA as well if only he could have stayed healthy while with us!
rememberthecoop
Piazza and his bacne. Now there’s a steroid user in the hall of fame. Yet guys like Bonds and Clemens can’t make it. Stupid.
You Can Put It In The Books
Prove it, dingus.
bklynny67
LOL no. No proof whatsoever he used, although David Ortiz did and it’s well known, and he’s in
riffraff
john stearns
Yanks4life22
Mets generally always have had good catchers. Same on both sides of NY to be fair. Probably says something about this city TBH. Gotta have thick skin figuratively and literally to catch in NY.
Loduca had a nice run for the Mets. I remember my pops always saying Grote was a really good catcher who was just on really bad teams. You look at Stearns and the stats remind me of Jason Kendall in a catcher who stole bases. Obviously Piazza and Hundley. D’arnaud was even good too just always hurt.
I really think McCann was a product of the juiced ball. Those years seem to be outliers.
RunDMC
How much to patch the sheet rock?
angt222
I’d call Pittsburgh about Roberto Perez. Cheap veteran who’s a strong defensive catcher with pop.
rememberthecoop
Or Oakland and Murphy.
davidk1979
He’s out for two months.
FullMontilla
And they’ll tell you they won’t see him until after the break
RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame
Or the Padres about Nola or Alfaro..
Cosmo2
Perez would be a great get
Yankee Clipper
Cosmo: What would be your thoughts be on either Higgy or Trevino if the opportunity presented itself? Do you care for either one or not enough offense out of either for you?
Cosmo2
I don’t think those guys are any better then Nido/Mazeika.
Yankee Clipper
Okay, fair enough. They’re very defense oriented, and if I recall correctly, Nido is a decent defender too. I don’t know the other guy though.
I wonder if Mets & SD could match at all for a trade since SD has catching depth too, & Preller never heard a trade he isn’t interested in.
You Can Put It In The Books
I think there’s some legs here, as both teams already had some extensive talks late in the offseason about JD Davis/Dom Smith/Paddack/Hosmer/prospects.
Cosmo2
Nido is a very good defender but his bat kills his value. Mazeika is a decent hitter for a catcher but not a good defender. To me, no need to make a trade unless it’s for a clear upgrade. McCann hasn’t exactly left an irreplaceable hole on the team so we’ll be fine with Mazeika for a while.
Yankee Clipper
Okay, that’s good. Catching is so important, obviously, and it’s the one area right now that the Mets don’t seem to have a clear starter for. But, that duo seems to complement well based on your assessment.
Mets are going to be tough to beat, man. And, if DeGrom comes back and is remotely close to normal (like Verlander’s return, which wouldn’t surprise since he’s arguable the best pitcher in the NL & possibly MLB too), as I’ve said before, they’re set up for postseason success with their rotation.
It’s very early, but as PutitOntheBooks and I have discussed briefly, a Subway Series could be taking shape! That would be awesome – Baseball in NY is alive again!
Cosmo2
Yea it’s great. I’d love a subway series. Right now McNeil, Nimmo and Alonso are all crushing it at the same time. As long as that continues, this team is gonna be winning.
rememberthecoop
This practically screams for a trade with the Cubs. Contreras is only signed through 22 so it wouldn’t impede the progress of theor prospect.
mookiesboy
They already gave the Cubs a future stud for a rental last year wouldn’t like to see them repeat that mistake again
BigFootsFart
Pete Crow Armstrong is not a future stud.
PitcherMeRolling
If they can get a rental with a decent bat for a reasonable cost, do it. Otherwise, grab someone who is good defensively and the Mets can probably get >90% of the offensive production they have been getting at catcher from any non-John Mabry MLB catcher.
RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame
AJ Preller on line 1..Something centering around Nola or Alfaro for JD Davis?
VonPurpleHayes
First and most importantly, I wish him a speedy recovery. I don’t think this will harm the Mets that much. Nido is arguably better.
Secondly, I think McCann was not a great signing and I still laugh at Mets official social media implying he was better than JT Realmuto, but the Mets have the last laugh as they have the most complete team in the NLE.
jvent
The Mets can’t go with Nido and Mazieka they both suck
VonPurpleHayes
McCann is arguably worse than Nido.
jwt421
Nido will be fine for now. Not much offensively, but he calls a good game and is an excellent defensive catcher.
I’m sure we will hear more about Alvarez from the fan base in the coming weeks to bring him up. After making some noise to start the season in AA, over the past 11 games his slash line is .122/.260/.146. Major league pitching will eat him alive right now. At 20 years old, He needs another year or two before he gets called up.
Cosmo2
Nido is really terrible though. Whatever he’s good at, his overall value is replacement level or below.
Kevin Michael Farrell
I’d jump on Contreras if he’s available. Alvarez is not ready yet! September call up maybe!
Cosmo2
Contreras will cost way too much I think
DaOldDerbyBastard
It says a lot about Nido that most of the pitchers prefer to throw to him. I’m 100% comfortable with Nido leading the way. I don’t care that he’s not a great hitter. We have other hitters.
Cosmo2
I hear ya but his career OPS+ is 52. 52! That’s really pushing the whole “not a great hitter” to quite an extreme. Have the Mets ever had a worse everyday hitter in their history?
Bill M
62 Mets. Choo Choo Coleman & Al Moran. Everyday catcher & SS both hit under 200
Bill M
*63 Mets
48-team MLB
*ROCHESTER RABBITS