The Mets and catcher Logan Porter are in agreement on a major league deal, according to Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 on X. The deal for the Gaeta Sports Management client is pending a physical. Porter has options and won’t necessarily be added to the active roster, but it appears he’ll get a 40-man spot. The Mets will need to open a spot there to make the move official.
Porter, 29, spent most of his career with the Royals until recently. An undrafted free agent signed by Kansas City in 2018, he got a brief look in the majors last year, getting into 13 games. He was non-tendered at season’s end and re-signed with the Royals on a minor league deal.
He was acquired by the Giants about a month ago in a cash deal, but he triggered an opt-out clause on Tuesday. The Giants could have kept him by adding him to their roster but it appears they let him go and now the Mets will be the ones to give him that roster spot.
Porter hit just .194/.324/.323 in the majors last year, though in a brief sample of 38 plate appearances. His work on the farm has been far more impressive, as he has slashed .277/.401/.466 in his 1,766 minor league plate appearances. That translates to a 131 wRC+, indicating he’s been 31% better than league average.
That includes a line of .293/.390/.500 and a 127 wRC+ this year, though in uneven fashion. He hit .319/.428/.575 with the Royals but then put up a line of .253/.329/.387 after being traded to the Giants. However, that latter line was in just 85 plate appearances and the overall work appears to have been good enough to interest his new club.
The Mets currently have a tandem of Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens handling their catching duties at the major league level. Alvarez was one of the top prospects in baseball not too long ago and has handled himself well in the majors thus far, having hit .231/.305/.450 in his career for a 110 wRC+ with strong defensive grades as well. Torrens joined the club six weeks ago and has been killing it in that time, with a line of .283/.333/.547 and 149 wRC+ since becoming a Met. That’s far better than his career line of .231/.292/.367 but the Mets will probably ride the hot hand for as long as they can.
But those two are the only catchers on the 40-man roster. Once Porter’s deal becomes official, they will have some optionable depth on hand if either Alvarez or Torrens suffer an injury. Porter has a full slate of options and only a handful of service days, meaning he could be a long-term piece for the Mets if he holds onto his roster spot. Porter also has some first base and third base experience, which could help him carve out a utility role at some point down the line as long as he keeps hitting.
Good for Porter. I wonder how many minor leaguers/fringe MLBers have the opt-out clause he did.
Seems like an odd choice for Porter given the Mets have a star catcher and quality backup on the 25-man roster.
My guess is they want a better backup to the backup – next guys up in Triple-A are Hayden Senger, Joe Hudson (currently injured), and Austin Allen. Porter’s had better Triple-A numbers this year and would be a better safety net if necessary.
His defensive metrics aren’t as good as Hudson’s but Hudson is hurt.
He becomes the insurance policy. If he stays ( and doesn’t trigger any other opt-out clauses ) maybe he becomes familiar with the young arms at Syracuse and gets his real chance next spring when one or more of those guys are ready for the big leagues.
Not only a depth piece, and one who is younger an perhaps better than the ones they currently have, but also one who can be kept around for the next two or three years.
It’s not odd choice for him, the Mets gave him a MLB contract. His opt-out with the Giants was related to him not being on the 40 man roster which the Giants elected not to do. They are facing a 40 man crunch as Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb are coming off the 60 day IL in the coming days.
It is interesting NYM gave him an MLB contract which suggests someone else was also willing to give Porter a 40 man spot and this was a way for NYM to make a better offer. The article didn’t say, was it a split contact MiLB/MLB for his pay? Regardless with an MLB deal I believe he’s getting MLB service time.
So pure speculation, does NYM shop JD Martinez in a market that lacks bats where they pivot to carrying 3 catchers and Alvarez becomes mostly a DH? JD is a rental, shedding some of his salary does come with CBT reductions and maybe he can get them a higher leverage RP in return? Such a deal likely involves a 3rd team
Interesting speculation. but you’d basically be replacing JDM’s bat with Torrens’. Don’t think they have that much confidence in Torrens’ bat on an every day basis. The CBT hit on JDM is only $4.5 million hit on the CBT for the season due to deferred money, and more than half has been paid out already.
I would look at it as what flexibility to the daily lineup do the NYM have by not having a full-time DH aka rotating everyday players thru the spot but primarily Alvarez.
AND
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what quality of RP could JD bring back in return. If the FO is reluctant to trade from their farm for RP rentals and they should, the only other depth NYM has is potentially with their starters. IMO that’s the last place any team should be trading, they needed all that depth and then some and the season is only a little more than 1/2 over.
It’s just speculation but NYM giving Porter an MLB deal when there doesn’t appear to be a fit makes you wonder how a fit could be made.
I understand about then flexibility, and it seems like clever speculation at first glance. I think its so caught up in principle(s) that it overlooks certain realities. I think it understates how big a part of this offense JDM is and how big a drop off there might be from him to Torrens – or anyone else on their bench.
I don’t like the idea of trading off prospects either, but lets not overstate the prospect cost for a RP. David Robertson was having an outstanding year and closing when the Mets dealt him last year. They got back one low-A, and one rookie level prospect who are both still in low-A. While both were well-regarded, neither is considered a future star. They’re also young, and still years away from the majors if they even get there at all. That is a cost the Mets can sustain
In the current situation, they’re not going to mess with the middle of the batting order. Not to mention the chemistry, and the leadership JDM has brought. That trade also sends a bad message to the locker room.
“So pure speculation, does NYM shop JD Martinez ”
Going into the season, I think this was the plan, as it was for a number of other players (Bader, Severino, Manaea). But they’re playing well now and their hitting has been fantastic. JD Martinez is a huge part of that, not just via his on-the-field performance (131 OPS+) but the influence he’s had on the rest of the team. Multiple Mets have praised JD for his knowledge and willingness to teach.
Offense is a position of strength right now, but they can’t/shouldn’t deal anyone because of that. They *need* offense considering how bad the bullpen is. They need to score 6+ runs just to have a shot as no lead is safe with that bullpen.
Agreed, this will never happen. They are coming down the home stretch with momentum and additions without acquisitions.
The Mets have a favorable SoS and a game(s) in hand on the the field. They will be strategic buyers of salaries and lower level prospects to fill any gaps. Doubtful, but the only top tier prospect I can see them trading is Baty. Counterintuitive but he’s blocked at the MLB level with Vientos/Iglesias and Mauricio will be a capable backup/2B next year.
Just so my 2 cents is clear, I am outsider/non NYM fan, looking in. The impetus for any speculation I had was in relation to NYM giving Porter an MLB deal and trying to understand the fit.
More speculation, I think the NYM front office in signing Porter is trying to create as much optionality as they can in front of the trade deadline.
While NYM holds the 3rd WC spot, there are 5 teams within 3 games of them and SD/AZ are ahead or tied respectively in the win column. Their schedule is MIA, NYY, ATL and MIN in front of the trade deadline. I wonder how sideways things would have to go for NYM in the next 10 games for them to become sellers. As others have alluded, I’m sure the plan coming into 2024 was this was a retooling year.
My bigger point in all of this is teams just don’t hand out MLB deals to a 40 man bubble player unless there is a roster fit. At this moment the fit is not obvious, this suggests medium or longer term moves. What if the fit is a long term plan to move Alvarez off full-time C to a C/1st/DH role (think Buster Posey). They value the bat so much they wish to remove some of the primary C injury risk. Obviously in that scenario Pete Alonso is no longer a NYM which right now isn’t a certainty.
So there should be moves coming that make this signing more obvious than “they don’t have any other C’s on the 40 man.”
No – Alvarez is massively more valuable at C. Mets’ staff loves throwing to him – look up team ERA when he’s catching vs. when he’s not.
And the Giants staff LOVED throwing to Posey. It’s challenging committing big $$$$ to full time catchers due to injury risk. If the NYM are considering extending Alvarez and I presume they’d like to do, his first two seasons have illustrated the injury risk that catchers have and may give them pause.
This is not moving him off catcher, this is more moving him off a standard full time C workload. and him grabbing starts at DH and potentially 1B where he plays 140+ games a year. In that sort of scenario you’re not only managing intra-season injury, the team is taking a long view to his career as a Met.
Once again, the genesis for all this speculation is why did the NYM give Porter an MLB contract when there was no fit.
dugmet: To paraphrase “Bull Durham…”
“Where can I go?”
“You can keep going to the ballpark and keep getting paid to do it.”
He’s a baseball player and it’s a paying job. We don’t know what other options he had to choose from, if any.
Why???? Alvarez and Torrens have been an excellent catching tandem. Waste of a roster spot.
I’ll be surprised if he retains that spot past the trade deadline.
How about depth? Because players do get hurt. What’s odd is that they gave him a major league deal. He seems to profile as someone who could have been had on a minor league deal. That’s where this becomes a waste of a roster space.
not having a 3rd catcher on the 40 man roster is the concern and this was an opportunity to resolve that issue.
The Mets only have 2 catchers on the 40-man and in AAA the only guys with ML experience are Austin Allen, and Joe Hudson who is hurt. They want another option.
Injuries happen as we all know. Alvarez gets banged up a good bit. Solid depth move by Stearns
Guess Parada is unusable.
Bro ain’t ready
Not even close to it
Parada is only in AA and no where near ready for the majors, nor do they need to burn a 40 man spot for him. Typical negative troll.
How is it negative? I’m not trolling at all. He’s 22 and was supposed to be the most advanced college hitter in the class. In this age of the game where the best college guys are coming up a year after drafted it’s really telling that Parada isn’t even considered for a 40 man spot. And yes I get that catchers need more seasoning defensively but that’s not the issue the issue is he’s not even hitting in AA. It’s completely reasonable to be concerned about him.
“Guess parada is unusable” is a really weird way to express concern that he’s a bust.
And yeah, he’s unusable as a capable MLB-ready backup in case of injury. Either aaa option would be better. Porter is better than those options.
@ D2323… you’re generalizing too broadly. SOME of the best come up in a year… that doesn’t mean its the norm. And how many of them come up, flop and have to go back & forth to the minors several times over the next year or two.
Yes, Parada’s performance this year has been disappointing. But he’s showed flashes, and he’s gotten hot lately (OPS over .900 so far in July). There’s still 2 months left in the season, and minor leaguers can explode suddenly. So too soon to condemn his 2024 season, let alone his career.
@d2323 – “the issue is he’s not even hitting in AA.”
Only May 17th, he had a .568 OPS. Since then, he’s raised it to .698. You know, *improving* and *developing* just like everyone else does. Over the last month, he’s slashed .309/.373/.515 for an .888 OPS. If you actually looked at his stats you’d see there’s not a huge reason to be as alarmed as you are. Maybe you’re not trolling but you certainly didn’t do much research.
LOL You resent being called out on a negative comment and then defend it with a more detailed negative comment.
Parada has been hitting the past month and with power. Could very well be used as a trade chip in a week or two.
I’d keep him. I think they’d still be selling low on him. This streak has been too brief, and he’s still striking out too much. “‘d rather see how this plays out.
I’d keep Parada and groom him for First and platoon him with Baty there.
I would take Houston up on their offer for the Polar Beer and Sevy.
Have some balls and make the gutsy move for the future and not just say Hey we hung around for a Wild Card
When you wont get by Philly, Braves or Dodgers to start with
Kevin Parada = Alan Zinter
To Zinters credit, he did hit 250 home runs in the minors, but 1st round catchers should get in more than 78 at bats in the majors.
Parada is following in Zintersfootsteps.
“Kevin Parada = Alan Zinter”
Parada has played only a half season above single A and you’re ready to call him a career minor leaguer. This is either trolling or irrational hatred.
Curious “Mr. Spock eyebrow raise” these humans?
Could be for needed depth as commenters have suggested. Many teams could use catching depth,
I don’t think he would be considerd a starting C yet.
Possibly could be included in a trade.
IF NYM were to trade JD Martinez and or Alonso, Alvarez, Vientos (Baty ?) could be used as a DH more.
Baty could be brought up and get some ABs at 3B and 2B (along with Iglesias and McNeil)
Parada’s progress (or lack of) could be an issue although I think they hoped he could play other positions (1B, 3B, OF?) once he reaches the majors
Pure speculation on my part.
Objectively for baseball reasons, I also think Pete should be moved.
I don’t think he will due to off the field attributes.
1) Baty’s slumping badly over his last ten games. 2) He’s not really playing 2B down there – he’s had all of 6 games at 2B in the 6 weeks since he got sent down, and I don’t believe any of them were recent.
@geofft:
1) his slump is only over the last eight games (he was 3 for 9 in games 9 and 10 of this “slump”). But even still, his OPS is .872, which is great and shows how silly it is to make judgements on an eight game sample.
2) Wrong. He’s actually played in 9 games at 2B including 3 of the last 4. So, yes, he’s recently played there.
Signing and cutting every fringe backup catcher in baseball seems to be Zaidi’s mission in life.
Porter wasn’t cut by the Giants, his contract had a provision that if he wasn’t added to the 40-man he could opt-out. SFG didn’t have a 40 man spot for him. If you’re a Giants fan you should be happy, this means Ray and Cobb are coming back onto the 40/26 man roster shortly.
NYM decided to not only make a 40 man spot for Porter but also give him an MLB contract, this a great outcome for him. It has everything to do with roster fit for the players at the end of the 40/26 man rosters.
Mets you’re getting the “green light” version of Torrens and enjoy it I watched him for years with the Mariners be incredibly streaky. When the “red light” version flashes get ready to hang on tight lol.
I think they know that. Why else would they use up a roster space and DFA another player just to add Porter?
That whole streaky thing seems to be a common theme for backup catchers
As long as he keeps up his 70% caught stealing ….he’s good.
I hope that was sarcasm when’s a 70% kill rate on SB good?
I understand the Royals are loaded with catchers right now majors and minors, however how do they let this guy go for nothing to show for it.
They did get cash for him. He’s a 29-year old who barely cracked the majors last year for all of 21 days in September. Not sure that he’s worth much more than that.
I initially thought Porter would be a chip in a trade for a lefty reliever, but perhaps you all are right about stocking the system at catcher. If you see him in a few MLB games it would be because he’s a chip.
Even though I’m a Yankees fan, I hope Luis Torrens continues to play well with the Mets.
Torrens was SCREWED by the Padres when they Cynically & Heartlessly took him in the Rule 5 Draw from the Yankees, even though he had only played 3 seasons, All between Rookie ball & A+ ball.
Normally, a kid signed at 19 or later is eligible after FOUR seasons. However, Torrens was eligible after playing only 3 minor league seasons because he missed his age 19 season, which would have been his 3rd season.
At that point he had LESS than 180 ABs at the A+ level, so the Padres KNEW he wasn’t ready in 2017 to play at the MLB level, since the kid had never played AA OR AAA, and he had barely played at the A+ level.
The Padres kept him on the MLB roster in 2017 solely to retain rights to him, and they barely played him (123 ABs with a .163 average), knowing they were screwing with the kid’s professional development, but they didn’t give a damn about what was best for a young kid. Screw him, right Padres?!
The Padres clearly knew he should NOT have been in the majors because they DEMOTED him back to A+ ball AGAIN! in 2018. Then he spent most of 2019 in AA, before the Padres decided, “You know what, let’s screw the kid again” and called him up to the majors in 2019 before he had even 1 At Bat at the AAA level. So, as you might expect, he hit just .214.
Torrens FINALLY got to play at the AAA level for the FIRST TIME in 2021, FOUR YEARS AFTER the Padres cynically grabbed him out of A+ ball.
Prior to the Padres saying FU to Torrens, he was on an arch, if given normal development, to be a good-to-excellent MLB player; but the Padres’ system was depleted so they figured, Hell, let’s play a crapshoot with a kid’s career & keep him at the MLB level, a full 3-5 YEARS before he should have been there.
MLB should change the Rule 5 Draft so that a kid who hasn’t PLAYED at least 4 years in the minors & at least played 80 games at AA can’t be chosen in the Rule 5 Draft.
Yes, teams may screw with the system by making sure a kid only plays 79 or fewer games at AA, until the following season, but at least The Next Louis Torrens won’t be cynically & heartlessly Screwed by the Padres or some other selfish & despicable team.
The above is why I sincerely hope Torrens finally has the type of career he seemed destined for back in 2018 before Padres said FU to him.
Holy crap you took that much time to type about Luis Torrens? I’m never speechless and yet I’m speechless