Mets Give Backup Catcher A Surprising Extension Despite Team's Ongoing Struggles
Early May isn’t a typical time for MLB teams to be handing out contract extension, but the New York Mets decided to make backup catcher Luis Torrens the exception to that rule as they gave Torrens a two-year deal worth $11.5 million, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com , with the news reported by multiple other outlets.
The timing may be slightly odd, but the extension itself is well-deserved, and it represents an acknowledgment of Torrens’ ongoing development to become one of the best backup catchers in baseball. The move also came on Torrens’ 30th birthday, so it’s a welcome gift, and it ensures that the backup catcher will be in Queens through at least 2028.
Torrens came to the Mets as a journeyman backup back in 2024 as he’d played with five other organizations, but now he’s clearly found a home. His caught stealing rate of 47 percent during his time in New York leads all catchers who have spent at least 250 innings behind the plate, and Torrens was a Gold Glove finalist last season despite appearing in just 86 games as a catcher.
His average pop time that measures his throws to second was fourth fastest in MLB last year at 1.87 seconds, according to DiComo, and he’s at 1.86 this year, although Torrens has had just five throwing opportunities this year.
Torrens has also changed his reputation as a defense-first, no-offense backstop to some extent. He’s sneakily effective as a hitter at times, and he’s delivered some timely hits at important times.
The backup also represents Alvarez insurance at times given the development of top catcher Francisco Alvarez , who was sent to the minors last season and has struggled with injuries. The Mets have been expecting Alvarez to step up and become a star, but it hasn’t happened to date. Alvarez is an effective hitter who still has defensive lapses, but he’s clearly still not all the way there as a player who can evolve into a regular and then a star.
Torrens stepped into the breach when Alvarez was hurt last year, and he still comes in to spell the starting catcher during those defensive lapses, which are starting to seem like a part of Alvarez’s basic game.
Torrens was making $2.28 million via arbitration this season, but now he’ll doubles salary and then some. The Mets brought in several veterans on minor league deals to test Torrens and provide competition, but none of them came close to unseating the reliable backup who’s often far more than that.
