Mets’ Omar Narvaez-Francisco Alvarez catching situation will be ‘day to day’
New York Mets catcher Omar Narvaez made his long-awaited return to the field after missing much of spring training and the beginning of the regular season. Manager Buck Showalter inserted Narvaez into the starting lineup, acknowledging that he is still getting familiar with the veteran catcher after his extended absence. Showalter also spoke highly of Narvaez’s skills, praising his ability to call a game and his prowess with the bat. Narvaez’s return will cut into rookie Francisco Alvarez’s playing time, but Showalter plans to take a “day-to-day” approach to the catcher position.
FAQs:
Who is Omar Narvaez?
Omar Narvaez is a veteran catcher for the New York Mets who missed much of spring training and the beginning of the regular season due to representing his native Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic and a left calf strain.
What did Buck Showalter say about Narvaez’s return?
Buck Showalter, the manager of the New York Mets, acknowledged that he is still getting familiar with Narvaez after his extended absence, but praised his ability to call a game and his prowess with the bat.
What will Narvaez’s return mean for Francisco Alvarez?
Narvaez’s return will cut into rookie Francisco Alvarez’s playing time but manager Buck Showalter plans to take a “day-to-day” approach to the catcher position.
Will Alvarez be considered for other positions such as the designated hitter (DH)?
Buck Showalter noted that he is not averse to using Alvarez as the DH when Narvaez starts behind the plate, but noted that the Mets would lose the DH in a game if Alvarez started in the spot and then had to move into the game on defense.
What happened to Tomas Nido?
Tomas Nido was removed from the roster to make way for Narvaez’s return and was designated for assignment. He may be traded before the Mets have to place him on waivers this weekend or may clear waivers and declare free agency or accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Syracuse.
Will Nido return to the organization?
Buck Showalter expressed hope that Nido will return to the organization and noted that the decision on Nido was reached before the Mets left Citi Field on Sunday to spare the catcher from traveling to Atlanta to receive the news that he had been DFA’d.
The catching situation between Mets’ Omar Narvaez and Francisco Alvarez will be evaluated on a daily basis.
Mets manager Buck Showalter is excited to have veteran catcher Omar Narvaez back from injury and is looking forward to seeing what the 31-year-old can contribute to the team. Narvaez missed much of spring training while representing Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic and then missed time with a left calf strain after the season began. In his absence, rookie Francisco Alvarez emerged as a significant contributor at the major league level. Showalter plans to take a day-to-day approach with the catchers, with Alvarez starting on Wednesday but Narvaez being a key player for the team.
Although Alvarez had a torrid stretch, he slumped in the Mets’ last home stand, going 0-for-14 at the plate. This has made Narvaez’s return even more important. “Omar has been away from us for a couple of months, I am not going to let him sit around here and not play,” Showalter said. “I am hoping he can pick up where he left off, but he’s going to need to play.”
Showalter also praised Narvaez’s agility behind the plate and his ability to call games. The catcher arrived on a one-year contract last offseason worth $8 million, with a player option for 2024 worth another $7 million. The Mets are excited to have him back in the lineup and are hoping for big contributions from him as the season progresses.
Getty Images
Also in the mix is Tomas Nido, who was designated for assignment Tuesday to make room for Narvaez on the roster. Showalter said that the decision had been made to send Nido down before the team left Citi Field on Sunday, so he didn’t have to make the trip to Atlanta to receive the news. The manager said he hopes Nido will stick with the organization, despite the emotional conversation the two had on Sunday.