The New York Mets, who have been arguably the most disappointing team in the MLB this season, went all out as sellers at the MLB trade deadline.
New York was not afraid to sell off some of its top players to build for the future with prospects. However, this can’t be said about its top two catchers on the roster, Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens.
Both Alvarez and Torrens remained on the roster past the deadline. New York valued the depth they have at a valuable position, leading to New York asking for a lot of capital in any deals involving the two, said The Athletic’s Will Sammon.
“Multiple teams said the Mets asked for a club’s top prospect plus more when they reached out about catcher Francisco Alvarez’s availability in a trade,” Sammon wrote. “This high ask suggests the Mets did not have serious interest in trading their catchers. Despite a market full of teams seriously in need of catching help, the Mets saw value in keeping Alvarez and defensive whiz Luis Torrens. It is hard to find catching.”
The One-Two Punch of Alvarez and Torrens Holds Value to Struggling Mets
GettyThe New York Mets’ catching depth in Francisco Alvarez (pictured) and Luis Torrens led to the franchise not dealing either player ahead of the MLB trade deadline. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
New York is at the bottom of the National League with a 47-66 record. The thought of a postseason birth is slipping away, leading the Mets to be sellers at the deadline.
However, the Mets’ catching depth in Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens was a part of the roster not to be messed with at the trade deadline.
Alvarez, 24, is under club control through 2029. His health has been an ongoing issue in recent years, but he has been productive when on the field. Alvarez is hitting .255/.341/.440 with 12 home runs and 27 RBI on the year. He provides 20-home-run upside, as he did in his rookie season in 2023. Not to mention his reliable defense.
Luis Torrens, 30, is looked at as the Mets’ defensive catcher. His hitting stats aren’t the greatest at .216/.279/.314 with two home runs and 20 RBI this season, but his defense is one of the best in the MLB.
Torrens is ranked in the 93rd percentile or better in caught stealing above average (93%), framing (95%), and pop time (97%), according to Baseball Savant.
The one-two catching punch of Alvarez and Torrens is what resulted in the Mets’ high value for each catcher.
A Look Back on the Mets’ Trade Deadline Moves
GettyThe Mets traded players like Clay Holmes (pictured), Freddy Peralta, Luke Weaver, and A.J. Minter, among many others, at the MLB trade deadline. In return, New York acquired 12 different prospects. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Despite keeping Alvarez and Torrens, the Mets still committed to their selling label.
It began in June, when New York dealt starting pitcher David Peterson to the Chicago Cubs. The Mets followed up this trading frenzy of starters by dealing Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays and Clay Holmes to the Chicago Cubs.
The bullpen was another popular demand. The Mets dealt Luke Weaver to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooks Raley to the Philadelphia Phillies, Huascar Brazoban to the Chicago White Sox, and A.J. Minter to the Minnesota Twins.
Outfielder Tyrone Taylor was also dealt to the Chicago Cubs in the Holmes trade.
In return, the Mets got 12 new prospects, with nine already being ranked in New York’s top-30 prospects rankings. It was highlighted by their new top prospect, infielder Jefferson Rojas.
Mets Reveal Francisco Alvarez Insight Following Catcher’s Trade Interest