The New York Mets have suffered with a number of injuries in the early stages of Spring Training, including catcher Francisco Alvarez missing 6-to-8 weeks with a fractured hand.
Mets could target Tucker Barnhart in the wake of Francisco Alvarez’s injury
Losing Alvarez is a significant setback to the team because he was expected to be the starting catcher, and the Mets were only planning on carrying two catchers. As a result, they may have to start over and look for a catcher before Opening Day.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, New York should pursue two-time Gold Glove Award winner Tucker Barnhart to step in at catcher in Alvarez’s absence.
Barnhart, 34, is starting his 12th major league season. He signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers this offseason, but they already have Jonah Heim and Kyle Higashioka at catcher. He played his first eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, where he earned the Gold Glove in 2017 and 2020.
Barnhart could be useful for the pitching staff
Barnhart is not a good offensive catcher, but he is an excellent defensive catcher who might work effectively with the pitching staff to shut down opposing batters. The Mets have enough players in the lineup to compensate for their lack of offense, so they can overlook Barnhart’s offensive troubles as long as he makes a significant defensive contribution.
It is unknown who the Mets will target as a replacement for Alvarez. However, Barnhart could be a good alternative to pursue at a low cost.
