A position nobody is talking about that the Mets need to address

Meanwhile, the Mets make their first big move to fix their depleted bullpen

New York Post

What’s up with the Mets? 🍎

• The Mets made their first big splash to help their pitching staff, signing two-time All-Star reliever Devin Williams to a three-year deal (story)

• Even after signing Devin Williams – who has 86 career saves – the Mets remain in on Edwin Díaz (SNY)

• Steve Cohen and Hard Rock have officially been awarded a NY Casino license (SBJ)

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Rumor Mill 🔎

• The Astros will consider moving outfielder Jake Meyers for starting pitching help (Athletic)

• Detroit would like to retain reliever Kyle Finnegan (Detroit Free Press)

• The Giants are not inclined to spend what it would take to sign RHP Tatsuya Imai (Athletic)

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The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️

In an emergency live stream edition of The Just Mets Podcast, Rich MacLeod & Andrew Claudio share their instant reactions to the Mets signing Devin Williams, what it means for Edwin Díaz, and react to some other reports from the last 24 hours.

SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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The Mets can’t ignore catching depth for a second straight winter ✍️

The buzz phrase in Mets land since the moment the season ended has been “run prevention,” which is obviously just a fun way to say pitching and defense.

Obviously, the Mets pitching in particular was not good enough for the majority of 2025, but the defense was lacking in several areas as well, which is the primary reason fan favorite outfielder Brandon Nimmo was sent to Texas for second baseman Marcus Semien a week ago.

We all know New York is attempting to drastically overhaul its pitching staff this winter, starting with their signing of RHP Devin Williams to a three-year pact to help rebuild their bullpen, and don’t be surprised if the position player shakeup doesn’t stop with Nimmo.

But one position that has gotten little to no attention to date this offseason is catcher, which for the second straight year feels like a gigantic oversight.

In fact, I remember writing, perhaps just about this time a year ago, clambering for the Mets to add to their catching depth. But I digress.

Look, in a perfect world, the Mets tandem of Francisco Álvarez and Luis Torrens is more than capable of being an above-average pairing behind the dish.

But here’s the thing.

Álvarez twice missed time on the injured list and spent another month in the minor leagues in an attempt to take some pressure off when he was struggling in the big leagues. All told, Álvarez played in only 76 of the Mets’ games a year ago.

Torrens, meanwhile, is an excellent defensive catcher who can hit enough to be considered one of the better backups in the league. But he, too, missed time on the injured list during the 2025 campaign.

The absences of both of the Mets’ top two catchers created two problems.

Number one, it became evident the team leaned too heavily on the catcher who was healthy, playing him nearly every day.

And two, it thrust 28-year-old Hayden Senger into 33 Major League contests.

Senger was a fun story during spring training last February, but he is not a big leaguer, as evidenced by his .181/.221/.194 slash line. He also struggled defensively at times at one of the most important positions on the diamond.

This time around, the Mets again feature Álvarez and Torrens as the big-league options, but I’m pleading with them to add more realistic catching depth to the organization.

Senger and former first-round pick—turned bust—Kevin Parada cannot enter spring training as the emergency options behind the plate for a team that is serious about rebounding in 2026.

Sure, we can all agree the Mets need to add better pitchers to their roster, but ensuring whoever is on the mound is throwing to a competent backstop should be pretty high on the priority list in my opinion.

So what can the Mets do?

Obviously, a starting-caliber catcher is not going to come to Queens to play in Triple-A and be a 3rd-string option. That’s not what I’m asking for anyway. But there are plenty of available free agents with big-league experience who could fit the bill for what the Mets could use.

Jacob Stallings, anyone?

Andrew Knizner? Luke Maile? Maybe a little bit of a stretch, but Elias Diaz?

The Mets just need someone that can join the parent club, capably handle a pitching staff, and play good, sound defense at position number two if the need arises.

They don’t currently have that guy in the organization, and I’m hoping they address that hole.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Nationals have hired Corey Ray—the 5th overall pick in the 2016 draft—to be their first base coach (Washington Post)

• The Rockies signed infielder Nicky Lopez and reliever John Brebbia to minor league deals (Denver Gazzette)