Two members of the Fab Four are gone, leaving more of a duo than a quartet. So what are Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto now — The White Stripes, Simon and Garfunkel, or even Milli Vanilli? The heart of the roster has been shaken hard. Pete Alonso has left, Brandon Nimmo was traded, and Edwin Diaz departed in free agency. The Mets have already overhauled the team in surprising ways, and there’s still one more dramatic move they could make.
Earlier in the offseason, when Tarik Skubal trade rumors were peaking, one name reportedly on the Tigers’ wish list from the Mets was Francisco Alvarez. Since becoming a full-time player in 2023, the young catcher has had an uneven path. Injuries have slowed him, and in other seasons he simply hasn’t met expectations.
If the Mets were to make one more major shift, dealing Alvarez to address another need — even if not for Skubal — might be the most realistic option.
Do the Mets actually have the nerve to trade Francisco Alvarez?
Catcher is a strange position. Many teams are fine with a player who hits around .212 with limited power as long as he handles a pitching staff well. But Alvarez has always carried higher expectations. Once briefly the top prospect in baseball, he was projected to develop into an elite all-around contributor.
Across 1,056 plate appearances, he owns a .230/.306/.429 slash line, averaging the equivalent of 26 home runs and 76 RBI per 162 games. Given the physical demands of catching, a more realistic annual projection is closer to 20 home runs and 60 RBI. His first full season delivered 25 homers and 63 runs driven in.
Alvarez did take steps forward last season, improving his numbers across the board despite fewer opportunities. His midseason trip back to the minors seemed to reset him, and his .921 OPS in the second half was a major reason the Mets stayed afloat.
Trading a 24 year old with years of team control could help the Mets address a bigger roster need. Packaging him for Skubal is one idea, but there are others. A young starting pitcher isn’t essential given the depth of prospects like Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat. First base is flexible. Center field could be an option, but only if the return is a player with Alvarez’s same level of upside.
There’s been no real sign the Mets intend to move him. Luis Torrens has become a fan favorite as the backup, but his ceiling is exactly that — a backup. Leaning on him as a primary starter would weaken the offense.
Still, given how radically the Mets have already reshaped the roster, using Alvarez as a trade piece wouldn’t be shocking. Prioritizing a defense-first catcher is not uncommon, and such a move would fit the theme of sweeping changes this winter.