3 solutions to the Mets’ catcher problem

The New York Mets have gotten off to a great start, but they’re now missing their top two catchers due to injury. Here are three possible replacements.

The Mets have been one of the best stories so far this season, surging to an MLB-best 11-1 record. Their pitching has dominated opposing teams’ lineups with ease. Their offense has been clutch to boot. Everything’s clicking on all cylinders, but unfortunately the Mets have some harsh injury news.

Their starting catcher, Travis d’Arnaud, is headed for Tommy John surgery. To add insult to injury, backup Kevin Plawecki has a fracture in his left hand. The Mets are in a sticky situation moving forward, as options at catcher aren’t great. With that said, New York should look from outside the organization for catching help.

The Mets are going to have to act swiftly, as they need to capitalize on their great start. The club should open its wallet a bit more to reach out for a backstop. The Mets showed they’re committed to winning by signing Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier and Anthony Swarzak. New York is stunning so far this season, and slowing the momentum by not being proactive isn’t a good look.

With that said, the club has decent options out there to choose from. The club shouldn’t have difficulty in acquiring any if them, especially since the Mets are a winning team. Here are the top three options for the Mets to sign to solve their catching problem.

1. Ryan Hanigan

The New York Mets could sign Ryan Hanigan. He’s been known as a glove-first player, but New York shouldn’t mind that, as he knows how to work with pitchers. Hanigan was a part of many successful pitching staffs, including the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. The Mets would be the best starting five Hanigan as ever caught for.

The possible downside of signing Hanigan is that he’s 37 years old. His bat at this point would be non-existent. Although he’s shown his glove has always been there throughout his major-league career. New York has a great offense already, so whatever they can get from Hanigan is a plus. The club could most likely get him on a minor-league deal, so he wouldn’t be a major hit on the payroll.

Hanigan is a good framer and has great baseball IQ. The club would benefit from having a veteran backstop who has had plenty of experience. Also, the catcher provides another headstrong guy in the clubhouse to draw energy from. He wouldn’t be that much of a risk overall, as the club could just cut him dry if his play has dropped a ton.

With that said, the Mets would have a defensively gifted catcher with a presence in the clubhouse. He knows how to execute the game plan and change on the fly.