Mets Catchers

The Mets are in a moneyball rebuilding phase and are simply looking to tread water in 2012.  The goal this season will be to develop younger players at several positions and get by with veteran players at others.  They have a younger player in place behind the dish.

1.  Josh Thole:  Thole has always been a decent hitter in the Major Leagues, hitting .268 last season and sporting a career .276 batting average.  But he's far from perfect offensively.  He can't hit left-handers to save his life, has no power, and is not a good base-runner.  Basically, he's a one-trick pony who should only legitimately be counted for occasional success at the plate.  And defensively he's a mess.  A converted first baseman, he's poor behind the plate.  And he also fights a lot of pitchers, which is not a good thing for a catcher.  The Mets are hoping that Thole can improve a bit at the plate and behind it and they may see both of those things, but Mets fans will be disappointed with Thole by season's end.

2.  Mike Nickeas:  Nickeas is a 29-year-old career Minor Leaguer who is probably going to be the Mets number two catcher this season.  GM Sandy Alderson wanted to sign a more proven backup catcher this off-season, but his need at the position was essentially so high that it was non-realistic.  Considering Thole's defensive struggles, Alderson needed an excellent defensive catcher to serve as his backup.  And with his bad relations with pitchers - in particularly RHP Mike Pelfrey - Alderson needed someone to serve as a personal catcher for at least two Mets pitchers (Thole also has trouble catching RHP R. A. Dickey, who features a knuckleball in his arsenal).  And with Thole's struggles against left-handed pitching, Alderson needed a right-handed bat who could platoon with Thole.  Basically such a backup catcher doesn't exist, and if he does he wasn't a free agent this season.  So instead they have Nickeas, who is a defensive standout that could potentially catch both Pelfrey and Dickey.  And he is right-handed so a platoon isn't out of the question.  But Nickeas has a career .190 batting average at the Major League level, and he batted .189 last season in 53 at-bats.

3.  Rob Johnson:  Johnson is a former top prospect with Seattle who the Mets have signed to a Minor League contract and have invited to Spring Training.  Last season he batted .190 in 179 at-bats with San Diego.  Johnson, like Nickeas, is also a defensive specialist who pitchers like to throw to.  Johnson is a slightly better hitter than Nickeas and has a better track record at the Major League level.  Alderson has said repeatedly that this move is purely one of depth, but LeRoy wouldn't be too surprised to see Johnson win the backup catcher's job from Nickeas.

4.  Lucas May:  May is another catcher whom the Mets have signed to a Minors deal and invited to Spring Training.  And he's in the same mold as Nickeas and Johnson:  Right-handed with a good history of relationships with pitchers and strong defensively.  May's only 27 and he still could blossom as a player, but the Mets are not looking at him in the long-term.  He may not even stick with the team after Spring Training.  Last season May batted .238 in 248 at-bats at AAA.

The Mets don't look strong at this position.  It appears right now that they're not going to get any production against left-handed pitching from their catching tandem, whether it involves Nickeas or Johnson.  And with Thole getting most of the innings behind the plate there shouldn't be much defense either.  Oh yeah and Lucas May?  Yup.