Amid a rough season campaign, the New York Mets are locking up their important backup catcher.
The New York Mets picked a bit of an odd time amid struggles in their season campaign to hand out an extension but decided that their backup catcher was worth it. The Mets agreed to a two-year, $11.5 million extension with Luis Torrens to keep him with the clubhouse through at least 2028. The deal has up to $2 million in possible incentives and doesn’t include any options, locking up the free agent ahead of his impending free agency after this season.
The Venezuela native is one of the league’s best defensive catchers, with a position-leading 47 percent caught stealing rate since 2024 among catchers with 250-plus innings. While he only appeared in 86 games as a catcher last season, he was still a Gold Glove finalist. The well-rounded backup is more adept on defense, but he still managed to contribute during extended absences of starting catcher Francisco Alvarez while on the injured list. In three seasons with New York, Torrens has slashed .225/.281/.347 with eight homers in 152 games.
He has been with five other organizations in his time in the league, quietly heading to the Mets back in 2024 in an under-the-radar trade from the New York Yankees. With Alvarez on IL, Torrens immediately paid off and the extension clearly reflects New York’s recognition of that.
To read more about the semi surprising extension to the important backup, here is the full story from Mets Roundtable writer Bob McCullough.
While Alvarez is cemented as the starter through 2029, New York is bolstering the role with valuable depth and proven defense.
