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Practical Destinations in a Potential Trade Involving This Mets Veteran

According to Andy Martino of SNY, the New York Mets have roughly $10 million left to spend this winter. While Martino mentions the team will push beyond that number in the right circumstance, it’s a small amount for a team that needs to finish building its bullpen. Perhaps a trade of a veteran, like Omar Narvaez, could come into play and free up some money.

Mike Puma of the New York Post reported that the Mets were shopping Narvaez to teams this offseason. Narvaez will make $7 million this year and currently projects to back up Francisco Alvarez. The Mets don’t need to pay a backup catcher that much money, especially with Tomás Nido still in the organization with a $2.1 million salary.

In a potential Narvaez trade, the Mets don’t necessarily have to dump salary or eat money to move him. They have the option to trade him for a pitcher making a similar salary, eat money to get a more intriguing player in return, or dump salary and sign a higher-upside bullpen arm. They can also dangle Narvaez as a secondary piece in a bigger trade.

Practical Destinations in a Potential Omar Narvaez Trade

Quality catching is scarce in MLB, and teams will surely be interested in exploring Narvaez. 32 on Opening Day, Narvaez struggled in 2023 and lost his starting job due to injury and the emergence of Alvarez. He produced a 64 wRC+ in just 164 plate appearances last year. However, Narvaez represents a solid defender and excellent pitch framer with decent offensive upside.

Teams might attribute his 2023 struggles to injuries and lack of playing time. Narvaez is an option to rebound offensively next year while providing his reliable defense. Multiple clubs can upgrade their catching depth by trading for Narvaez (and improving the Mets in the process).

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays want to contend next year but currently have an uninspiring catching depth chart. René Pinto is the current starter, while non-roster invitee journeymen Alex Jackson and Rob Brantly project as backups. The Rays have turned nobodies into solid contributors in the past, but they likely prefer a safer backup option. The Rays prioritize defense and pitch framing in their catchers, so Narvaez is an obvious fit.

However, the team’s financial flexibility is unknown. Even after trading big salaries away, the team’s current Opening Day payroll projects to be a franchise record. Assuming financial restraints for Tampa, the Mets will likely have to eat money and/or acquire a similar contract.

The Rays have been rumored to be interested in trading Isaac Paredes and shedding his $3.4 million salary. If the Mets acquire another bat, it will likely be third base insurance, which makes Paredes (and his three years of club control) a fit.

With New York’s most pressing need being relievers, perhaps they can acquire Pete Fairbanks and the $7.33 million over two years guaranteed to him. Tampa has dealt with a plethora of pitching injuries recently, but they can turn random league-minimum players into solid contributors. Fairbanks is an important part of their bullpen, but the Rays might need financial flexibility and can replace him.

If the Mets can acquire either of these players in a Narvaez trade, it will cost eating money and likely sending a mid-level (at best) prospect. It will depend on how desperate Tampa is to shed money, but if the Mets eat all the money in the deal, they likely can get away with sending a low-level prospect with Narvaez. The possibility of eating Narvaez’s salary while receiving a minor league prospect is realistic as well.

Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins currently have a better catching tandem than the Rays. Projected starter Nick Fortes is a solid defender who has flashed some offensive potential in the past. Additionally, Christian Bethancourt is a solid defender who controlled the run game at an elite level last year. Both have reputations as poor offensive players and likely project best as backups.

As a team, Miami lacks offense. Adding Narvaez is an opportunity to increase the potential of the team’s offensive output while not losing much defensively. He has produced more league average or better (per OPS+) than Fortes and Bethancourt combined. Miami can carry three catchers (while giving Narvaez DH time) or option Fortes to the minors. Miami can’t afford surefire offensive upgrades, so trading for players with potential and hoping to help them make adjustments is necessary. This player profile fits Narvaez.

Miami has plenty of pitching depth, and there’s likely an arm the Mets like and can acquire. Like the Rays, Miami lacks financial flexibility, but the Mets should be happy to eat money and acquire a higher-upside arm in the process.

Another trade structure option sees Narvaez as a piece in a bigger trade. The Mets have been connected to Miami starter Jesús Luzardo. This potential deal would see the Mets giving up multiple pieces, including legitimate prospects or young MLB talent. Since the Marlins can use Narvaez and want MLB-ready pieces, he is a real option to be included in this deal.

A potential framework sees the Mets giving up one or two prospects, Brett Baty or Mark Vientos, and Narvaez for Luzardo. It remains to be seen whether the Mets would do this deal, but it’s one realistic way to use Narvaez as an asset in a trade.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs expect to split catching duties between 36-year-old Yan Gomes and youngster Miguel Amaya. Gomes works great with pitchers and provides decent offense. Amaya has been one of the better prospects in the organization but has struggled to develop his bat in recent years. Jorge Alfaro, who bounced around multiple organizations last year, recently signed a minor league deal with the club for depth.

A Narvaez trade would add another veteran presence to a catching tandem that can easily hurt the team via injuries and inexperience. Can Gomes be counted on to play much more than 100 games? Can Amaya be counted on to step up despite his struggles? Manager Craig Counsell managed Narvaez for three years in Milwaukee and could value the familiarity and reliability brought by Narvaez.

One avenue to explore is swapping Narvaez for Drew Smyly and his $8.5 million salary. Smyly struggled at times last season and was demoted to the bullpen. However, he showed that he could still get hitters to chase pitches and make soft contact. The Mets have more use for Smyly as a bullpen arm (he fits best as a multi-inning reliever) than they do for Narvaez as a backup catcher.

The Cubs have added to the rotation this winter and have some young prospects ready to contribute in 2023. Smyly is currently slated for a bullpen role in Chicago and might serve as rotation depth. While it never hurts to have solid arms, perhaps the Cubs would rather allocate his money elsewhere on the roster, like at catcher. Swapping these veterans could make both clubs better rounded and be a win-win.

 

Photo Credit: “Omar Narvaez (52800361257)” by slgckgc is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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